PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 8 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THE PAYNE INCIDENT* [Pee Press Association. J Wellington, July 7. When the House of Representatives met this afternoon, tho member for Grey Lynn took his seat and tho question of his suspension taken as the first business. Mr Payne was asked if he proposed to withdraw the words taken down at Friday's sitting. Mr Payne said he wa s fully aware that the dignity of the House must be, maintained, but he could not bo put in the position. The Speaker: Will the Jion. member withdraw Or not? Mr Payne said that there was no option for him but to unreservedly refuse to withdraw. No personal reflection was cast on Mr Massey. The Speaker: I understand the hon. member refuses to , withdraw.? Mr Payne: That is so. Sir Joseph Ward urged that Mr Payne be advised to withdraw-, the words. The House had dealt with the words rs taken down, and not with their intention. Speaking for himself, he would not support any !member making such a personal charge, unless it were defined in a resolution. He urged Mr Payne to look calmly and dispassionately at the question and see the wisdom of withdrawing. The Speaker intimated that he would give the member another opportunity of withdrawing the words. Mr Payne said he appreciated very much the efforts to east oil on the troubled waters, but under the circumstances he must unhesitatingly refuse to withdraw the words.

The Speaker: Will he hon. gentleman withdraw from-the chamber? Mr Payne left the House. . The Premier than moved 'that tho member for Grey Lynn be suspended for the remainder of the Tuesday's sitting. The motion, he said, needed no explanation. Personally, he was indifferent to any words used towards him, but he had to think of the House, otherwise it would be impossible to say where they would draw the line. Mr Webb rose to speak, but was silenced by the Speaker, who informed him there could be no debate on the question. The motion was put, Mr Webb's stentorian "Xo" being the only protest against it. ' The Speaker 'declared the hon. member suspended for the remainder |of the sitting, and then delivered to .members a ' homily on the evils of interjections.

PBRST READING.

Leave was given to Mr Hindmarsh to introduce.the .Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. , )•■ ,{..■■ ■ '.. THE LATE MR CHAMBERLAIN. Mr Massey intimated that on hearing of the'death of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, he had sent a cable to Mrs Chamberlain, condoling with her on the death of her distinguished husband, and that that day he had received a reply tendering the thanks of her and her family for sympathy. Sir Joseph Ward said tliat om behalf of his side of the House he would endorse the sentiments expressed in the Premier'!* cable. He culogisod

the life work of Mr Chamberlain, one of the greatest of Englishmen.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. ' The debate on the Addross-bi-Reply was resumed by Mr Escott. Mr Seddon urged that the Government should give some indication of when the Cost of Living Commission's report would be discussed. Mr Scott said he knew no country in the world in which the workers were so well off, but the time must come when the overloading of employers by high wages must cease. it was not only the high wages, but the inefficiency of the workmen, which employers in both town and country had to contend with. Mr Isitt said he wanted to support Sir Joseph Ward's amendment, although he did not suppose it would 'bo carried, for the Government supporters were so supine and lamblike in their submission that they would submit to anything put forward by their leaders. Touching on defence, ho declared it was idle to say that six months ago the Government was not in favor of an independent navy. He ridiculed the suggestion that the "Reformers" were not conservative. Mr Rhodes (Thames) said tlio Speech from the Throne was a commonsense document. Mr Webb said he could congratulate the Government upon standing true to the traditions of the Party, and had brought down a policy which was absolutely barren of anything in the way of progression. lie believed the strike was a relic of barbarism, but, if so, was not the cause of the strike [all the more a relic of barbarism? The .Government was largely responsible for the industrial strife. Mr 1011 was opposed to a local navy scheme. The Mackenzie Government did real good work. The Second Ballot repeal went through last I session because the Opposition members were stopped from speaking by the chairman of committees. They heard nothing now of the hardships of settlers. The House rose at 12.15 a.m.