LIVELY SCENE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 245, 16 October 1931, Page 9

LIVELY SCENE.

LABOUR PARTY BAITED. INSTRUCTIONS OF ALLIANCE. PEIME MINISTER'S ATTACK. HOUSE IN AN UPROAR. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday.

The liveliest incident of the session was enacted in the House of Representatives to-night when during the noconfideiicc, debate the Prime Minister provoked; a raging storm of Labour protest hy accusing members of the official Opposition with being dependent for tlieir-daily instructions on the Xew Zealand""Alliance of Labour. Bitter reioinclers and denials "were shouted across the floor of the Chamber to the accompaniment of a bedlam of Labour and in several instances members were called' upon to retract their 'statements.

Although some Labour members refjsed l to take the Prime Minister seriously others displayed high feeling to the/ great:amusement of members of the Government party. . Tlie'-outburst followed the speech of Mr. H. E. sHollaud, the Labour party Leader, who, in the course of his address, which lasted an hour and a quarter, had renewed his appeal to Mr. Forbes for a definite statement as to the position regarding the general election. "The Leader of the Opposition is very concerned about by answer to this question," replied the Prime Minister, with a smile.'. "I want to say that Mr. Holland had better'wait until'l am in a position to make that statement. In the meantime members of , the Opposition can go on with their preparations. What has been stated on the subject is only news-paper-rumour, and other tilings, but the business of the session will go on in the ordinary way. If stay inter-ruption is to W made it will be notified by announcement." ' '■' Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central): Well, that is clear, I must say. Mr. E. Semple (Labour, Wellington East): As clear as mud.

Labour Outside Control. Mr. Forbes recalled Mr. Holland's statement that the Government should obtain a mandate-from the people, but said he did not apparently appreciate the difference between Labour and the. other members of the House. The Labour party: was bound down to what was determined by an organisation outside Parliament. "That's absolutely wrong," shouted Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour, Raglan). Mr. Forbes: It is bound down. Mr.' Martin (loudly): You have no right to make that statement. ' Above a chorus of denials from the Labour benches, Mr. Martin again shouted ; rQ:ng,-;-l"ou' l^h9uldl beasha^eSio^youfbelfr , " , ' -' /' MJ^^SpesKfer^asked'Mr. .Martin to •withdraw, and he "complied. •■.'..'■■ , ; who. appeared to be. enjoying th'e result; of his thrust,- pointed' put tiat T fc6,.liad.to sit in the chamber and listen,.-to vigorous 'criticism of. hims,elf arid of;the Government..'. . ' • -;w.: -. -v.. Mr*> Eraser:/ And you deserve it. - !t'V:;Accep"t 'Their Gruel. . • invited the Opposition also to accept its gruel, and .went on .to declare :_,"We all know the policy of the Labour ■■party ■is determined by the Miance! of' Labour." '; "■ : ■ ' This "statement-was greeted with uproaivlrom. the .Labour benches and loud laiigMei 'Ironi the Government side of the H.ousc. y ,- - ' . ! • AgainC-MrL Martin distinguished himself "It is jiot." • - MrrFoTbeswas not to be deterred and tarried;".|he'. 'onslaught further "by adding: "We;Kriq\v ; the; Labour party, dare 5 not crookjilviittle'finger if Mr. Roberts or Alr. Ct>ok ; ;■' sayV.it' must' not. (More uproar.)v the Labour caucuses I understand ' a representative of the Alliance of Labour has to be present." Tjabour Members: Rot. Mr. Martin: It is not so. (Government laughter.)' Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau): fie iff" guessing again. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Chrietchurch East) to the Prime Minister: You know it is a lie. '

Mr. Speaker ordered the member to withdraw. Mr., Armstrong: I withdraw, but at the same, time Mr. Speaker: Will the member resume his seat ? I merely asked him to withdraw. Mr. Armstrong: Out of courtesy to &r. Speaker I withdraw it. Mr. Forbes said he could nob understand why the Labour party was upset. Mr. W.*J. Poison ((Independent, Stratford): You are getting under its skin. Mr.' Forbes: While we have men of intelligence on the Labour benches they allowed to exercise it in any ■wayt other- than hi; accordance with the dictates- of the Alliance of Labour. Mr. Barnard (Labour, Napier): What Donsense. Mr. Martin: What rot. The.Prime Minister: Yes, the caucus Wdthe machine control it. Mr; Semple: You are a political circus. What Other Members Do.

The Prime Minister asked the House to. contrast Labour control with the attitude of members elected without having to defer to Labour organisations' decisions. "So far as the Labour caucus is 'conceriic-d," lie continued, "Labour is leg ironed." In the case of such a dis-trict-as his (the speaker) represented his people scat him to Parliament to use Wsybest judgment in their interests. They did not send a man along to watch "what he''did, but left it to himself to decide. .'The Leader of the Opposition lad,declared: "I can depend on every one, of my men going into the lobby with me, and if they do not " (Loud daughter.) "Ana," continued Mr. Forbes, "when they say they must get a mandate, why, "they get a mandate every day." (Renewed laughter.) No doubt, added Mr. Forbes, the Supplementary Budget had been considered by outside Labour organisations, 'whq.'told Labour members what to eay abojit it. He advised Mr. Semple, who had. kept up a running fire of uncomplimentary interjections, that he should be a sport, and take criticism which_was coming to him. Members of the House were sent there to use their j™|ment and most members were doing so. They do not want to run back and get a mandate to deal with what o.omes up, he added. ■ Ultimatum to Government ? . '%& Prime Minister las made a ridiculous statement in connection vnm the Alliance* of Labour and Messiß.

Roberts and Cook,"said Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central). "He has said' that the Labour party cannot do anything unless they receive instructions from these two gentlemen. As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister knew that this is incorrect. I will go further and say that the two organisations referred to are not affiliated with the Labour party> and do not contribute to the Labour party's funds. I see laughter on some: of the hon. gentlemen's faces. The statement made by the Prime Minister is untrue, mean and incorrect.

Mr. Speaker: Order! The hon. gentleman must withdraw the word "untrue/" , . Mr. Parry: I withdraw.

Mr. Fraser: Very reluctantly. "The gentlemen referred to by the Prime Minister. have not attended any caucus of the Labour party since I have been in'the House," added Mr. Parry, "and I have been in the House for twelve years. Will the Prime Minister deny that. on : Tuesday last a member of another, organisation arrived from Auckland and delivered an ultimatum to .■.him." Mr. Forbes: I did not. hear, anything about it. Mr. Semple:- He will deny anything. "I Accept His Word." Mr. Parry: A representative of the United and Reform parties arrived from Auckland last Tuesday, and delivered an ultimatum -to this Government that an election was not to take place for twelve months, because there was no money. . '

Mr. Forbes:.l have never heard of it. • Mr. Parry: I again ask the Prime Minister a question and he denied it; I accept his word. The Prime Minister denies that any ultimatum along the lines.l have.suggested was made to him. Mr. Forbes: Yes. Mr. Parry: I accept his word, and I trust he will do the same for me. Mr. Semple: He is not big enough. Mr. Speaker: , Order! Mr. C, A. Wilkinson (Ind., Eemont). speaking after the Hon. D. Jones, Minister of Agriculture, who had raised.the same topic as the Prime Minister, asked Mr. Jones if:he was not in the habit oi taking instructions from South island wheatgrowers or, their pool.: He also wished to know if the Minister of Agriculture got any instructions in connection with a famous bargain for- the supply of' fertilisers. ' J