FLATLY DENIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 15

FLATLY DENIED.

MINISTER'S ACCUSATION. MB. LEE'S TOWN HALL SPEECH EXPLANATION ACCEPTED. (By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Statements alleged to have been made at the Auckland Town Hall on the night of the riot by Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn), were referred to in the House of Representatives to-night by Mr. Coates. These were flatly denied by Mr. Lee, and the Minister accepted the denial. Mr. Coates remarked that Mr. Lee headed the procession to the Town Hall. Mr. Lee: And thousands of returned soldiers were there, too. Mr. Coates: They weut I suppose to hear the member give an explanation of how he would bring about a reconstruction of present conditions. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) : And. he gave it, too. Mr. Coates: Yes, by issuing millions of notes. The Minister of Public Works added that he had before him notes of the speech delivered by Mr. Lee. Mr. Holland: Where, did they come from ? Mr. Coates said that Mr. Lee was recorded as having declared he (Mr. Coates) had stated that he would not give 37/G a cartload for the unemployed. Labour voices: Where did you get that? "I have got it from a dozen sources," the Minister replied. He was also said to have declared that under severe circumstances if the adjustment measure was not reconsidered by the Government he would be one of the first to "punch Coates fair between the eyes." Mr. Lee: No. Mr. Holland: Where did you get that information? "They are the declarations of people who were present at the meeting," said Mr. Coates. "I don't mind what is said about me, but if a Minister is to be misrepresented I would say that an entirely new tone is entering Parliament." "He Would Kiss You." Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour, Westland): He would not hit you. Ho would kiss you. (Labour laughter.) Labour interjectors (to Mr. Coates): Who are your informers? The Minister retorted that Mr. Lee would have an opportunity of denying the statement. In answer to another volley of interjections Mr. Coates reminded the House of a reply given by Mr. Holland to a question asked him at Wanganui concerning "some absurd story that he (Mr. Coates) and the Prime Minister did not get on together." Mr. Holland was reported to have replied, "I never interfere with family quarrels." That sort of smart reply, continued the Minister, had led thousands of people to believe that there was something in the ridiculous canard. Apparently not only the Government's policy but its personnel was being attacked at the present

time. Labour members: No. Warning by Speaker. At this etage the Speaker warned Mr. Parry that he would have to name him, and other members, too, if they persisted in their interjections. Claiming that he had been misrepresented, Mr.- Lee said the statements credited to him were a malicious misrepresentation. "I said," Mr. Lee explained, "that I had heard a member in this House say that the unemployed were only worth 37/0 a cartload —" Mr. Jordan: It was 7/0, he said. Mr. Lee: I gave him the benefit of 30/. I said that if I were unemployed and hungry and had a wife and children lacking the necessaries of life I would take certain action against any individual who gave utterance to a statement of that nature. I never mentioned the name of the Minister in that connection. I have always had a high opinion of the physical courage of the Minister, but there was not a vestige of truth in the statements handed to him when it made my words refer to himself." Mr. Coates said he accepted the statement of Mr. Lee. "I think I may say," he added, "that I am pleased to know that he is free from the imputation."