§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)rose, and claimed Mr. Speaker's attention to a point of Order. He said, I have been grossly insulted, Sir, outside by a Gentleman and addressed in the most impertinent manner. He has spoken to me again and again in the most impertinent terms. I do not know what constituency he represents—some division of Kent, I think—his name is Brookfield. ["Sussex."] He has addressed me again and again in most insulting terms. I have put up with his conduct on many occasions. Just now he persisted in following me about. I said I did not want to know him, that I did not think his acquaintance worth having, and that he would confer a favour upon me if he ceased to address me. He, however, insisted on following me about in the presence of a great number of hon. Members—I do not know them—who witnessed his conduct, I told him that unless he ceased, I would bring his conduct to your notice. This is not the first time, Sir, or I would not do so. Again and again I have been grossly, want only insulted by hon. Members who sit on those Benches, and I beg now to bring this conduct under your notice and judgment.
§ MR. SPEAKERIs the hon. Member for the Rye Division of Sussex in the House? If so, I will call upon him to say if he has any explanation to offer.
§ MR. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I do not understand, Sir, what the allegation of the hon. Member is. He seems to have some complaint against myself; but I can only say that if there is any complaint at all to be made, it would more properly come from me. But I wish to make every allowance for the hon. Gentleman, whose eccentricities are pretty well known to Members of this House—[Cries of "Order!"]
§ DR. TANNERrose——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member for Mid Cork has made a 1363 complaint of some misconduct, and I ask the hon. Member for Rye if he has any explanation to offer?
§ MR. BROOKFIELDThe explanation. I have to offer, Sir, is that the hon. Gentleman insulted me as I was leaving the House, and the only observation I made to him was, "Really, Dr. Tanner, if you speak to me in this manner I shall have to bring your conduct before the notice of the Speaker."
§ DR. TANNERMight I be allowed to remark that I never addressed the hon. Gentleman at all; but he came up to me at the Bar swaggering and saying, "I will not allow you, Sir,"—or words to that effect—"to look at me, or speak to me." I did not address the hon. Gentleman at all. This a myth of his own imagination; he was suffering under some hallucination at the moment, but I am not responsible for that. It is most painful to me——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I must call on both hon. Members to maintain a courteous bearing towards each other, and I do hope the House will not think it necessary to pursue this matter any further.
§ DR. TANNERI may be allowed to say one thing; the hon. Member dares not say to me outside the House what he has said here.