A "SCENE" AT THE SYNOD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4036, 12 February 1892, Page 2

A "SCENE" AT THE SYNOD.

Tho Primate " sits" upon tlo So?' AR-FitoboK- ' Ztefusos to allow a personal ozplm* tioS< The tedium of synodical proceedings was unpleasantly .interrupted lastiiiglit by the Primate's peremptory refusal to. permit the Boy A. it, iFitcbett, of 'Diinedin,, to;- make a. personal explanation.Although Mr i Fitcbett wished to show that he only claimed a privilege whioh he said was allowed by Standing Order 19, and ia spite of the fact that Bishop Neville and a number of other clergy pointed out the fairness of at least giving the Rev gentleman leave to state the grounds of his request, the Primate, in a heated manner, and ia very curt and uncompromising teruis, positively declined to allow iliim to proceed, threatening, if he persisted, to adjomu the Synod and leave the ohair.

Theaceuo" began about 8.20.. The Synod had just adopted certain resolutions n trust property, which had been passed in committee, when the Bev k, B. Fitohett rose with a copy of tha Standing orders in hia haud. He had got as far as saying that be desired to make a personal explanation, when The Primate, rising hastily, inter- , rupted him. by stating that he not permit the order of business to be interfered with by the introduotion of an extraneous matter. Be, therefore, called upon the Dean of Ohristohurch to proceed with tho motion for the second reading of , his Bill, whioh was the next business.

■ The Rev, Mr Fitchett, who seemed greatly taken aback, wished to point out that he was acting in conformity with Standing Order 19. The Primate, again interrupting, said he had already pointed, out that the business must proceed as set ■"*' down on the order paper. The Dean of Christohurch was now in order to move the second reading of his Bill. If the Rev. Mr Fitchett had anything to bring forward, he muet give notioe of it in the usual way. The Rev. Mr Fitchett asked leave to read Standing Order 19, whiok he submitted would make his position ulear. The Primate ordered the rev. gen- 1 tleman to sit donn. If not, he him- \ self would leave the chaiv. J£ The Bishop of Dunedin submitted that if any member of the Synod, wishing to introduce matter of tha kind , contemplated by. the Revi Mr Fitchett, could do so without being out of order, the Synod oould not refuse to hear him, If it were a right, ' it should not be denied him. (Applause). The Primate: He cannot intcoduos anything that is not on the order paper, Tho Bee, Mr Fitohett: Psrdoa me, my lord, the Standing Order that I wish to read makes provision for what I desir-3 to do. . ' " The Jfrimate: I have already stated that the reY. gentleman must give notice of motion. The Rev. A. Toogood (JJarton) pointed out that the Rev Mr Fitohett appealed to the Standing Orders, and had signed bis locdship's indulgence to read the Standing Order „ upon which he claimed the right of making a personal explanation. Ho » appealed to a printed document,' and/- , suislyjliero could bo no harm in*'' hearing" what his authority was. (Applause.) The Rev Mr Fitchett, seizing his opportunity, then read out Standing Order 19, whioh is as follows; vßy the indulgence of the Synod, a member may explain matters of o personal nature, although there is no question before the Synod; but such matters may not bo debated." The Primate said there was no personal matter to explain. The Rev Mr Fitohett protested that his Lordship could not decide it until he had heard what the explanation was.

The Primate said that if in debate a member thought bis remarks bnd been misrepresented by another member he might askleave to explain what he meant. A case in point bad already occurred. The Dean of Waiapu having heard something imputed to him which was not exaotly according to the statement he had made, had asked leave, and been al- Jv lowed to set himself right. But bo< cause he (the Primate) allowed this ho was not going to permit the in, traduction of extraneous matter a k this stage. The reverend gentleman must give notice, so that tho matter ' might appear on the Order Paper. He again called upon the Dean of Chi'istchuroli. Archdeacon Mules said there was no question before the Synod, and if the Kev Mr Fitohett were allowed to speak it could easily be determined whether he was in order or not. The Rev Mr Fituhett respectfully submitted th&t the Primate could not

- pronounce upon the personal explanation until he had heard it, , The Primate:. Will you be good . enough to explain it; a Bev Mr Fitchett; Certainly, my « lord; I have asked your permission t to do so, and I have explained that ' my qpljpn js ip conformity with } Standing Order 19. I The Primate | That is only if U& ; member has been misrppresentei^^' If this matter, is persisted with _ further I shall simply leave the 'Synod, I shall adjourn tho Synod , unta the Dean of Ohristohurch goes ■ on. Tho Dean of Christchuroh had accordingly risen to proceed with his; . Bill, when the Bishop of Dunedin jumped upon his feet, and exclaimed, 'Are there no privileges, my Lord ?' The Primate excitedly repji'ed, 'I know nq priviledgeij'.' ' Thereupon tho Bishop of Punedin stepped down from liia seat, and paaaed into the retiring rpoi4}, unrobing SB he went through the Synod-room, He wae immediately followed by the Roy, Mr Fitchett and the rest of the clerical and lay representatives of the Diocese of Dunedin, applause from a section of the Synod indicating that their position met with sympathy. The Bishop of Ohristohurch and Sir John Hall followed, and appar* ently poured a little oil upon troubled, waters, as Bishop Neville, the Bey, J | Mr Fitchett and his from Dunedin reappeared and re-' sutned their seats after an interval 'of about half an hour.—