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Wednesday, 10 September 1913

The PRESIDENT - An honorable senator may use such language as is necessary to elucidate the question of privilege he raises. So far as I have followed Senator Needham, I do not think that he has transgressed the Standing Orders.

Senator NEEDHAM - I was saying that it ill becomes a man occupying the position of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth to make such a grave reflection on the Senate. I resent it as a member of the Senate and as a private individual.

Senator Lt Colonel Sir Albert Gould - When is the speech supposed to hav been made ?

Senator NEEDHAM - It is in an interview with the press in Sydney.

Senator Lt Colonel Sir Albert Gould - It is not a statement made in another place.

Senator NEEDHAM - No; it was made outside Parliament altogether. I want to ask you, sir, whether there is any remedy or procedure which the Senate might adopt to prevent a repetition of such reflections by a man occupying such a position as that occupied by the Prime Minister.

The PRESIDENT - In reply to the question asked, I have to say that I did see the statement referred to, and, in common, I suppose, with other honorable senators, read it, and observed the language in which it was couched; but I deprecate any reference to it or any notice of it here as calculated to magnify it unduly. I do not think that the Senate should take any action, or attach any importance to a statement which evidently was due merely to an ebullition of petulance. It would ill become the Senate to magnify such a statement or attach any importance to it.

Senator Rae - It might be well summed up by the question," What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?"

The PRESIDENT - Order !

Later :

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