A SLIGHT TIF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 11

A SLIGHT TIF.

PREMIER AND LABOUR. THE READING OF SPEECHES. DENIAL BY MR. COATES. (By Telegfaph.—l'arlliirhentary ReporteO WELLINGTON, Wednefeday. Labour members and tltti Primes Minister had a slight tiff when the Supplementary Estimates were under consideration in the House to-night. Mr. D. G. Sullivan was seeking information on a railway matter when the Prime Minister raised a point of order, desiring to know what particular item on the Estimates was being referred to. The Chairman of Committees upheld the Prime Minister, whereupon Mr. Sullivan refused to proceed with the matter, saying it was of little use to do so. "These benches have beep very tolerant to the Prime Minister this session," said Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), in supporting Mr. Sullivan's attitude. "We have a Prime Minister in the House who could not make a speech to the House, and had to come" down here and read speeches, contrary to Standing Orders. Our tolerance of his incompetence to make a speech without a written document means that we have this kind of thing." The Prime Minister: I have not read one speech. The hon. gentleman haS said something which ifl contrary to fact. Mr. McCombs': You did yesterday. Mr. J. G. Coates: I have not read on# speech in this House. Mr. A. L. Montcith (Wellington East): Why, it is your favourite pastime! (Laughter.) Mr. McCombs said that Mr. Coates had been called to order by Mr. Speaker for having read a speech. "I have not read one speech in this Parliament, not one," protested Mr. Coates. Mr. Monteith: You read two. Mr. McCombs: About the shipping trouble. "That was a statement." said the Prime Minister, "and a statement is

always read. This ia the usual kind of misrepresentation I have had to put up with from the hon. member for Lyttelton."

Mr. Coates stated that he did not care what Mr. McCombs thought of him, and added that, in the fourteen years he had been in Parliament, he had never

seen the Supplementary Estimates take such a long time to get through. At a later stage Mr. Coates made a statement in regard to an amendment of the electoral law, "and I propose to read it, too," he added. * "That is what we expect," added Mr. McCombs. The Prime Minister faced the Labour benches. "Are you all done?" he asked.

No further remarks being made, Mr. Coates proceeded to read his statement,