The Payne Incident

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 40, 8 July 1914, Page 5

The Payne Incident

-MEMBER EOII GREY LYNN SUSPENDED.

DECLINES TO WITHDRAW HIS OBJECTIONABLE REMARK.

, Per Press Association. 1 Wellington, Last Night. tiii! House ol Representatives met this afternoon, Tiie member for Urey Lynn took his n-.it and *the question of 'his suspension In ken as the first business Mr. Payne was asked if lie proposed io withdraw the words taken down at Friday's sitting. Mr. Payne said he was fully aware that the dignity of the House must he maintained, but he could not 'lie, put .ti the position. The Speaker: Will the lion, 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, '■' lie Speaker: I understand the hon. member refuses to withdraw? Mr. Payne: That is SO. " { Si,- Joseph Ward urged that mK Payne be advised' to withdraw tho words. The House had dealt with the words as 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 thwt 'he would give t'lie member another opportunity of withdrawing the words.' ill'. Payne said he fippa'eciated very much the efTorts to cast oil on the troubled waters, hut under the circumstances he must unhesitatingly refuse ir. w'ithdraw the words. Tiie Speaker: Will the hon. gentleman withdraw from the chamber? Mr. Payne left the House. Tin' Prenihr then moved that tho member for Grey 'Lynn >be suspended for the remainder of the Tuesday's sitting. Tile motion, he said, needed no explanation. Personally, he was indifferent to any words used towards hiin, but he had tr think of the House, otherwise it would be impossible to say where tlver would draw the line. Mr. Webb rose to spealc, but was silenced by the Speaker, who informed him there could lie no debate on .tile question. The motion was put, -Mr. Webb's «t?ntorian "No" being the only proTest against it. The RpeakPr declared the hon. member suspended for the remainder of the sitting, and then delivered to members a homily on the evils of interjections.