TEN
suspension of the Standing Orders.
It
is always permitted at Home in the House of Commons, and has been permitted here in the past. I think it is very wrong. Why should we be muzzled ? 1 am not going to say anything to upset the Government or cast it in gloom or any- thing of that sort.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Will you allow me to speak. please?
am
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Certainly, Sir. I beg pardon.
rils EXCELLENCY-I
firm be- liever in following rules. it is no good having rules if you do not obey them. Rule 26 of the Standing Or- ders says that no member may speak twice. If you wanted to make a persona! explanation of any statement you made in your speech you would be in order. I understand you wish to reply to remarks made by myself and other official mem- bers. To regularise the matter you must move the adjournment of the House, it must be seconded, and if it is carried then you can reopen the debate. I have no wish to stop you speaking.
The official members can vote any way they like, and if the House carries the motion 1 will be very glad to go on with the debate. Of course you can speak again, so can I or the Colonial Secretary.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT I again rise to a point of order. This 16 the only one time in the year the unofficial members have an opportunity of criticising the financial plicy of the Government, and the man elected to speak for the unofficial members should have the right of reply. I have had it in the past, and to make quite sure that I should have the right to day I called officially on the Colonial Secretary and understood from him that I should have that right.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Will you be good enough to move the adjournment?
Hon. Mr. HEWET-I have two amend- ments to move, the adjournment of the debate on the budge and the reduction of the Harbour Deparment voto.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Why don't you move the adjournment?
Hon. Mr. HEWETT There are only four unofficial members here, and I don't know what this vote will be. The point I wish to make is that under certain conditions I should have the right to reply.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I 201 very sorry. These Standing Orders were made and drawn up by my predecessor and passed by this honourable Council, and the Council said by their own orders that members should only speak once, and you want to break that rule. I looked up the debates this morning, and saw that in 1910 you were ruled out of order, and last year you were also ruled out of order. am quite willing to hear you,
I
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-We are swamped by the official vote. We ought to have the same right to reply as they have in the House of Commons, which is the mother of parliaments, and all our debates are based on her procedure.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Will you kindly move the ajournment of the debate and we'll carry the motion for you. Then you will have a right to speak.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I beg to move the adjournment of this debate till this day six months.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK-I beg to second. HIS EXCELLENCY-This day six months is absurd.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I will say this day fortnight
205