A "FOUL" ASPERSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 102, 23 September 1914, Page 4

A "FOUL" ASPERSION.

BITTER SPEECHES IN THE HOUsK, MINISTER ASPERSES MR RUSSELL'S LOYAJJX ' j \ By Telegraph.—Press Association. ,

Wellington, Last Wight. • During the course of a debate in thtf House to-night the Holl. Herdmaai was asked to withdraw certain words. The Minister toad moved tih« second reading of the War lt.sk Insurance Jt M Sir Joseph Ward, following him, said the Government did not know whatibhe

(position (wast ia collection with vrori neks. Mr. (Poland comjplained thab mininy camipanies wero seriously handicapped by the prohibition of gold expert. Mr. %ere welcomed the Bill na a useful protection to "small shippers. Me, Russell said the 13ill was only another illustration of the incompetency of the Government to deal with & largo question when it arose. The proposal was nlUsolutoly ridiculous. The Govern*ment should have made on effort to e become the agent of the Imperial authorities in this Dominion. Hon. Herdman, in reply, said the speech just mado by the mteniber for Avon was one of the most biiter vindictive, ajid malevolent he had ' ever heard. It was his personal opinion ithot in wo innermost recesses of his heart the member for Avon would rattier see • Buroipe overrun by Germans than that the Government should ran&iu in of« lice. Mr. Russell moved itihat those word# be taken down. Premier, who hurriedly came into the House, said the words had not been •ruled out of order by the Speaker, and be could do no more than move that no further action he taken. Mr. Russell said the words were among the most blackguardly (hers he was called to order, and withdrew > the words). Continuing, he said the I aspersion was a foul one east upon his loyalty, and therefore a grave reflection upon him and his children. He would be satisfied with nothing less I '- than the withdrawal of tho words. Mr Myers urged that tho word# should bo withdrawn 'by the Minister, and the incident allowed to close. Mr. Forbes remarked that it ill became the Premier to sit and smile wliiio a member of his Government used sucJi y unwarranted language towards a mena* * ber of the House. Hon. Buddo was proceeding to laddress tilie {House liffl a similar strain when the House rose foe the dinner adjournment. ■ When the lloubc resumed in the evening 'tho Premier referred to the quarrel of the afternoon, amd he suggested that 'both members should withdraw what they had said. Sir Joseph Ward agreed thaifc it would be wise for the Attorney-General to withdraw what he had said. The Hon. Herdman then withdrew the words ho liad used, and Mr. Russell "freely and willingly Accepted the honorable and manly withdrawal of th# ' words." . The incident then oloeed.