TREATED LIKE CHILDREN

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 9

TREATED LIKE CHILDREN

OF PARLIAMENT.

VERJVMEHT TACTICS. IBBKVXBD BY LABOUR LEADER, fIF vfcfSHE DAY OF RECKONING." # ~ I

ijKMB MINISTER'S ULTIMATUM. n*" - «*r yrelegnpb.—Pa rlla men ta ry Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Monday. [The Government expected a troublegome time during the first Monday evening Bitting of the House, because many ■Oppositionists believed the Premier had imposed this extra sitting in a spirit of fflientment. There were crowded galleries at the opening hour, when the protests of the previous sitting were repeated. The Premier, however, declined to continue the controversy, his only contribution being notice to move: "That for the remainder of the session the House shall meet on Monday evenings."

Opposition Leader's Protest. Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Inland) offered the strongest opposition to the motion. He said it was the outcome of the Government's breach of faith on Friday night. An agreement lid been entered into with the Opposition Whip, and no sooner was it entered ilfto than the Prime Minister proceeded ip submit a motion which could only Ijaye been designed deliberately-to break ffiith with the Opposition. The arrangement made was that the Railways Estimates would be taken. The railway statement had been discussed from early afterfioon till after midnight. At the outset Opposition members had been prepared to let the railway statement go without discussion, but a Government member had opened the debate, and at times three Government members spoke in succession, so it could not be charged that the Opposition was responsible for the debate. The fact remained that after midnight had passed the Opposition had it in their power to prevent any Ijptimates being put through, as no new business could have been called on after 12.30. Senior Whip's Disclaimer. Ultimately, continued Mr. Holland, an arrangement was made between the Government and the Opposition that only the Railways Estimates should be taken.

Mr. Dickson (Senior Government "Whip): Not as far as the Whip was concerned.

Mr. Holland said that might be so, owing to the Senior Government Whip's absence from the Chamber. It was unfortunate that the Whip didn't come in. Mr. Dickson: I didn't.

Mr. Holland said that did not alter the fact that the Prime Minister made an arrangement with the Oppositidh, and, after the arrangement was made and the Railways Estimates parsed, the Prime Minister moved that the House should meet on Monday night. "In doing that," said Mr. Holland, "the Prime Minister must have known that had he given us notice of his intention we would not have Hj|4e that' arrangement. It was made With the implication , that .the House would meet on Tuesday as usual." Mr. "Holland said arrangements had been made by members to go away for the week-end, and certain members had been unable to get back. Some of the Government party were in the same fix. He (Mr. Holland) believed Government members were never consulted.

"When this arrangement was made regarding the Railways Estimates," continued Mr. Holland, "no mention was made of the House meeting on Monday, and I couldn't help thinking that the Prime Minister's action was the result of pique, because of incidents which occurred during the debate late in the night. I say that whenever any arrangement is made with the Whips it must he kept in a better spirit, and we will not tolerate anything in the nature of tactical sharp practice. The Prime Minlster cannot point to a single instance where the Opposition has broken faith when an agreement has been made." It was utterly unfair to members of the Opposition, and just as unfair to members of the Government party. He hoped it would be a long while before such an experience was repeated. "Treated Like Children." v^/. r " f V Forbes (Leader of the Nationalist party) surveyed events which led to the Prime Minister's motion Jor Monday night's sitting. He contended that the House had done a reasonable day's work when it passed the Kauways Estimates, and that the debate was not unduly long. In fact, the newspapers had criticised members for not discussing certain important phases which they failed to touch. Had talk gone on till after 12.30 no Estimates could have been taken, but the Prime Minister was given an opportunity of replying before that hour, and the House considered the Estimates in- committee, passing them with brief debate. There was a certain amount of heated discussion on the railways statement, but the Premier could not accuse either the speaker or the Leader of the Opposition of taking part in it. The Prime Minister was evidently feclVr a little sore, and his retaliatory move was the motion to meet on Monday. Mr. Forbes proceeded to give the Leader of the House some advice on smoothly conducting business, assuring him that a good deal more could be done if members' convenience were consulted. Business could be better conducted if there was no attempt at bullying. Mr. Speaker: Order! Mr. Forbes: The feeling was that we were treated not as members of Parliament, but as children, because the Premier got up and moved a motion which in effect said "this is to punish you for what you have done." He did not punish the members present only, but also those who were away. "This is not the way to conduct the business pf the House," said Mr. Forbes, "and >t would have been much better had he agreed to the arrangement and not sprung a surprise on the House." As for allegations that time had been wasted, Mr. Forbes declared that Government members took part in the discussions, and there had been none unduly long except on a non-party measure, the Summertime Bill.

Mr. T. W. Rhodes: Only two nights. Mr. Speaker: Order! Mr. Forbes: At any rate that discussion was looked for. He concluded bv suggesting that during the Address-in-Reply debate the Government appeared to wish that it should continue until its measures wer» readv. There was a feeling that the motion wag not playinjr thr» jrame, but was get it l:nH; .0, «• •, 'n im-miL-p:-*. The House won! • if it was j.ill 1' .

When the House met at 7.30 the Government motion was "that it go into I committee on the estimates," but three hours later Labour members were talk--1 ing to the motion, their main topic being a dispute over the finances of the Wellington Education Board. Breaking Point Reached. The Prime Minister intervened in the debate near midnight, declaring that the programme for Friday was to pass the Railways, Lands, Education, Industries, Commerce, Marine and State Advances Estimates, but it was unable to accomplish this. Negotiations went on throughout the evening while the railway statement was still being debated. There were difficulties until nearly midnight, when the chief Government Whip declared he was finished with it. He (the speaker) was not making any charge against the Labour Opposition about deliberately bailing up the Estimates, but the amount of work to be done and the days left did constitute a matter of concern to the Government. It had been freely stated that the Government was not getting on with the work, and that he was responsible.

Mr. Holland: Quite true. Mr. Coates: Why? Because the Opposition have held up business, on every conceivable occasion (Ministerial hear, hears). Mr. Holland: Name any special item. Mr. Coates: Bill after bill. The Shops and Offices.

Mr. Parry: You don't suggest we arc not to analyse them.

Mr. Coates: We have tried our best to work with the Opposition, but they have managed to push it off, and the day of reckoning has come. It means that the Government is going to put it*legislation through irrespective of are only going to consider Government business now. The Premier added that the Nationalist party leader had always met him.

Mr. Holland: You said on did not blame the Labour party for that.

Mr. Coates: I say the Labour Opposition have bailerl up business, and delayed the progress of legislation. No doubt that is their game, but one reaches the breaking point. Mr. Coates added that he did not think Government members should be asked to keep silent simply because the Government party was the largest. All the way through the Opposition had held up bills.

Mr. Howard: Mention one. Mr. Coates: Numbers of bills have been talked and talked till 12.30, and then off they go. Mr. Howard: Mention one; you can't do it. Mr. Coates said he took the whole responsibility for moving for the Monday night sitting, and to-night he wished to take only the land valuation, and the industries commerce votes, which were suggested on Friday night.

Mr. McC'ombs: What significance do you place on your words "satisfied" used when you answered a question regarding the Railway Estimates?

Mr. Coatfcs: I meant to let it go. Mr. McC'ombs: \ou said you were satisfied.

Mr. Coates: I was prepared to take anything at all. I did not move for Monday because of pique, annoyance, or irritation; nothing of the kind. I like things to be over in five minutes. lam not one to bear malice. Once you've had your bust up, that's the end of it. If you bear malice life isn't worth living. All I wanted to do was to get on with the business. No breach of faith was intended. I didn't even tell my colleagues I intended moving the motion.

Mr. Holland: It would have been a fair thing to tell the Opposition Whip. , Mr. Coates replied that he would grant that. "I think it probably would have been. I was only anxious to press on."

The House went into Committee of Supply at 12.17 midnight. After going into Committee of Supply at 12.17, the House passed several classes of estimates with very little discussion.