WASTING TIME

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10718, 23 October 1912, Page 5

WASTING TIME

THE WAIll) INCIDENT. SIB JOSEPH REMAINS OBDURATE. •MOTION OF CENSURE CAKiM EH. (]iu Tdcrjraph—Z'w A rsociat< on-) WELLINGTON, Last Night. In tho House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr -J. B. Hiiio prcyented the report of the Public Accounts Committee, stating that Sir Joseph Ward had refused to withdraw thiv words (WJiplnined of at the Committee's meeting on Friday evening. Sir Joseph Ward detailed what had occurred that morning at the Committee meeting. He stated that the official record of tho Committee was incomplete. At the Hon .Mr Allen'sinstance the report was altered. Every ) member of the Committee who attempted to speak on tho resolution of tho House had been ruled f/ut of order with a rod of iron, and rendered absolutely dumb. The minutes of tho Committee should have been absohrto exactitude. Ho desired to say that he had no personal grievance against the Chairman of tho Committee. Ho was sorry for what had occurred, but he could not withdraw his words. He contended that, th'.' 1 Chairman's attitude was hostile throughout the proceedings, and was anything -but conciliatory. He asked the Speaker's ruling whether iho Chairman hnd the J tiower to ride +l:at the resolution of tho House could not he discussed. The Speaker ruled +-hat-the Chairman's word was final. Tho Hon J. Allen said the only consideratiori before the Committee was whether Sir Joseph Ward would withdraw. <

Sir Joseph Ward, continuing, said i the resolution of tho House had never boon before the Committer. The oxtract o-f the evidence put beffro the Ho-use last niffht was incomplete. and had boon amplified at the instance of tho Minister in charge-of tho Committoo. If party prejudice was to bo carried so far as to cause a false basis on which to proceed against a public mail, then thero was a poor lookout for a public man in JNW Zealand. Fortunately there was public opinion ■beyond tho House, which would see | that fair play was dealt out to all. ! Mr J. A. Hanan said the "gag" had been applied to Messrs Craigie, Myers, himself and others. Tho proceedings of the Committee had been carried out on the "star chamber" system.

Tho Hon J. Allen said if it was allepjocl that the Chairman was undulv strict, thero was no doubt tlHat feeling was manifested against him because of his actions in Parliament. Sir Joseph Ward: "Th at is nonson so." Tho Hon J. Allon : "Tt is nil vow well to say that ; hut T know it is so." Ho contended thnf tho rieht •thing to do was for Sir Josor>h Ward •to withdraw. Nobody could unhold ■Sir Joseph's attitude for one mnmont. If ho withdrew, iho could thon challenge tho Chairman's ruling by resolution. Ho thought tho Chairman i had be>lmvod himself woll right through ■the .hearing, if Sir Joseph Ward would withdraw, ho was sure Mr Tfino ■would moot him in a generous manner. Right or wrong, the Chairman 'had to ho uphold. ■Messrs Oolvin. Hindmarsh and |3?..u-s&ell continued tho debate until tho dinner adjournment. Whon tho House resumed at 7.30. Mr Witty continued tho debate. Ho thought it was a pity tho Chairman of tho Committee had no f met. Sir Joseph Ward half way. Tho House had not had nn opportunity of considering what had led no to the retort of Sir Joseph Ward. Thov had no ricrht to pass -a resolution condemning Sir Josonh Ward for what ho had dono, considering tho way in which matters had beon conducted. Mr Leo said tho Chairman's rmcstion was ono that really ought not to have boon taken exception to. Mr Hanan : "Tt showed what ho had in his mind." Mr Loo: "Sir Joseph Ward could j not take off once at a 1 word passing-in tho Chairman's mind." The question was whether thov were to close the door to order, >nnd opon it to chaos. There was no doubt but that tho words should bo withdrawn. Mr L. M. Tsitt said Mr Leo wanted his pound of flesh. The remark made by the Chairman of the Committee ■meant either that Sir Josopli Ward jhad suggested what was false or had I suppressed the truth. If the Chairman of tho Committee would rise up and state that ho had gone too far, lie was sure that the member for Awarua would act similarly. Mr Newman considered the whole thing was ■sordid and squalid. | Messrs Myers, Forbes, Pearco, Ell, j and McCallum continued the debate, the latter stating that Sir Joseph Ward would be justified in going to prison ra-ther than withdrawing his statementTho Hon F. M. B. Fishor defended the action of Mr Hinp. Mr J. Pi. Hine said ho had ruled in Committee that before any reconsideration of the report of the ■Committee took place, tho remarks made by Sir Joseph Ward must be withdrawn. Ho himself had shown no heat, and ho added. "When the volcano burst T was thunderstruck. There was nothing in my manner to imply irritation or offensivo'ness." Xo challengo of his conduct had been made. Ho wont on to sn.V, "If Sir Joseph Ward does tho honourable thing, ho will

not find mo lacking hi doing my share."' Sir Joseph Ward: "What docs he mean by that? If lie does not think he was offensive, then he does not know what offensiveness is." Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said lie ( could not see his way to withdraw his words. He looked upon tho Chairman's request as a personal insult, and as a result lie used the words complained of. Ho would rather be censured. by the House than withdraw them. The Chairman of the Committee went out of his way to be offensive to him. fre now submitted himself to any judgment the House might pronounce. Sir Joseph Ward then retired. Tho Hon W. F. Massey said .ho regretted -having to move a resolution in connection with the incident, though he would do the same thing if it affected a member of his own party. Ho moved, "That this House expresses regret that the Right Hon member for Awarua has not thought proper to withdraw the words "taken down, and reported to the House by the Public Accounts Committee." Mr Robertson moved as an amendment, "That the House, while recognising that it is the duty of a member to withdraw any expression ruled to be unparliamentary, considers that in this case tho circumstances were such as to warrant tlio House proceeding no further in the matter." ! Mr Veitcih, in seconding the amendment, said that, to use a colloquialism, Sir Joseph Ward was "in a ditch," and it was not /air to put their feet on his neck. The amendment was not intended ns a reflection on the Chairman of the Committee, but had been put forward by tho Independent Party in the House on its own volition, tho wbjoct being to settle the mutter amicably. Mr R. MeKenzie expressed suprise, regrets, and dissatisfaction with the attitude of the Government. Ho did not think a half-hearted amendment would be acceptable to Sir Joseph Ward. He believed the incident would redound to the credit of Sir Joseph Ward.

Mr Robert-son's amendment 'was lost by 38 votes to 33. After further debate, the motion of the Prime Minister was carried by 38 votes to 33.