LOYALTY IN THE ASSEMBLY. Exciting Scene.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 5 (Supplement)

LOYALTY IN THE ASSEMBLY. Exciting Scene.

The closing 1 scene of the debate on Sir Henry P.irkes's loyal lesolution in the Assembly is thus described : At half pa^t 2 o'clock this morning (June 17) the Speaker, after leaving the chair for half an hour, returned into the Chamber, and having restated the question under discussion, three or four members of the Opposition and Mr Burns 1 , member for Morpefch, rose to their feet with apparently the intention of addressing the House on the lesolution moved by Sir Henry Parkes on the amendment proposed by Mr "Dibbs. Mr Burns caught the Speaker's eye, and being named by the Speaker, the other members were obliged to resume their seats. Mr Bums moved, " That the question be now put," and immediately there were cries of dissent from the Opposition, and an exclamation from Mr Melville of " A cowardly anangement ! ' " I hope," said the Speaker, who had risen to put the question, " That the question bo now put," "that the honourable member does not intend to impute any cowardly arrangement to me.'' " I intend to impute it, and it is a cowaidly proceeding,"' said Mr Copeland, rising from the front Opposition Bench, and confronting the Speaker, amid the excited cheers of the Opposition and loud cries of " Chair !' from the Ministeiinl side of the House. The excitement at this moment was very great, but as both the Speaker and Mr opeland remained standing, and the latter amid confusion which quickly became unbounded proceeded to vehemently express his opinions upon what had been done to bi ing the debate to a premature close, tho excitement and disorder becoming perhaps unparalleled. Upioarious shouts of " Chair ! Chair !" and cheers, and excited exclamations created an uproar indescribable. Nothing beyond the first few words of what Mr Copeland said could be understood or even heard, and when a lull in the disorder came Mr McElhone rose from where he had been sitting, and addressing the Speaker, who was still standing, said, " lam not a coward, and I heard it," referring to something which it afterwards appeared Mr Copeland had said of members having, before the Speaker temporarily adjourned the House, risen and expressed their desire to speak. "And I am not a coward," said Mr Melville, following Mr McElhone rapidly, "and 1 heard ib before you left the chair." "It is my duty," said the Speaker, "to put the question, and I will explain my conduct afterwards. " ' ' Let us have the explanation first," shouted the Opposition, which was followed by more cries of " Chair !" Mr Burns's motion was then put, and it being carried, the amendment moved by Mr Dibbs upon Sir Henry Parkes's resolution was also put, and the House dividing, it was negatived by 54 votes to 13. Then the scene changed to one of even greater excitement, though of a different kind than before. Apparently by arrangement, immediately the numbers of the division were stated by the Speaker, Mr Copeland, from the Opposition benches, called for three cheers for the Queen, and the call was responded to lustily by Opposition and Ministerialists alike. The next moment the whole of the Opposition left the Chamber, and as they did so the 53 members on the Ministerial side of the House burst into singing the National Anthem, the harmony of which resounded through the chamber, with splendid effect ; and when this singing had concluded the vrholc House gave three vociferous cheers. Altogether the scene was one not likely to be forgotten by any of those who took part in it, and who were present as spectators.