SUMMER TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 11

SUMMER TIME.

BILL OBSTRUCTED. ACTION BY GOVERNMENT. BITTER CRITICISM HEARD. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Bitter criticism of the action taken by the Prime Minister in springing a surprise, on the House was beard yesterday afternoon, when the Summer Time Amendment Bill, sponsored by Mr. E. MoKeen (Labour, Wellington South) was expected to be given a second reading. Immediately that stage was reached the Hon. J. A. Young, I Minister of Internal Affairs, announced that at the request of the Prime Minister he- wanted to inform the House that the Government had. the matter under consideration and it was proposed to introduce a b+U. This was interpreted by some members as an attack on the rights of private members to introduce legislation which was likely to pass, and it provoked keen criticism from the Opposition benches and from Mr. R. A. Wright (Coalition Reform, Wellington Suburbs). Eventually, consideration of the bill was postponed, this being the course desired by the Government.

"This is a particularly mean thing to do after Mr. MoKeen has met the House and secured its confidence," said Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central). Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour, Roskill): It is turning the whole thing into a farce. "Astonished." "I am astonished at the attitude," remarked Mr. McKeen. He said he had compromised with members when the bill was before the House previously, and had met their wishes by extending the period of summer time for one month till the last Sunday in April. It had never been suggested to him that the Government intended to bring down a measure to mee| the position. He did not know whether it was a case of the Government noj; liking a private member to get a bill through the House, but he hoped that the suggestion made by the Minister would not result in the bill being shelved. Unless there was an indication that the Government would pass a measure this session, then the only course he could see was for the House to proceed with the bill.

"This is only another thing that goes to show the entire lack of leadership in the House, a lack of comprehension, and a lack of the dignity of the House," said Mr. Fraser. It seemed to indicate that the Government took up the attitude that private members must not introduce legislation. How much, further than the amended bill was the House prepared to go? Ordinary courtesy demanded more than the mere statement that the bill would not be permitted to go through. If the legislation were to be better than the present bill the Government might be justified, though its method was indefensible. "It is an unprecedented act of Governmental selfishness if the bill is to be the same," he said. "At the moment it looks as petty as anything that has ever happened while I have been a member of the House.''

"Parliament Deteriorating." ' "The attitude of the Government only shows what a farce it is to allow private members to introduce bills, and it is just as well that ,the country should know it," said Mr. R. A. Wright (Coalition Reform, Wellington Suburbs). "At the last minute we. are told that the Government is going to oppose* the measure and bring down one of their own." It was not clear that the measure would be brought in this session, and what it would be. It was also clear that private members' bills to be opposed. "The Parliament of New Zealand is deteriorating and gradually getting worse and worse, and this, to my mind, is the climax." He reviewed the steps taken by Mi>. McKeen to meet the wishes of members, and said that there seemed to be no opposition. Several of the Coalition supporters said they were in favour of the half-hour, and the Minister of Labour was among them. He had not spoken, but he had interjected. Mr. Wright alleged that the whole of the difficulty had been caused by the fact that the member in charge of the bill was a Labour member. "The Labour members know I fight them," he said, "but at the' same time I do love fair play." The cities of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin were largely represented by Labour members, and it was the people in those cities who were to receive a trifle of benefit. "The. Government, with its full force and brutal majority, says it is not going to do it. 'Those whom the gods destroy they first make mad.' and it seems that the" Government is doing its level best to kill itself," continued Mr. Wright, warming up. "What the Government supporters are thinking about it I don't know. Supporters of the Government will, suffer in consequence of the rejection of this bill. What is being asked for is simply a crumb. The Government says, 'You are not going to get anything;: you are enjoying life too much, you people in the towns; you are too happy, and therefore we are not going to increase your happiness.' I must confess that' I ' have been in this House long enough to see Governments make many mistakes, but I have never, seen such a tactical Winder made in my life. It only shows how utterly incapable the present leaders of the House are. They are leading their party to destruction."

"Exhibition of Incapacity." "My advice to the member in charge of the bill is to give the House an opportunity of voting," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, who added that he supported Mr. Wright's - remarks. "For an exhibition tof incapacity to lead anybody or anything this is about the limit. The Minister does not make any promise; he simply said the Government had the matter under consideration. There is only one reply the House.can make, and that is to voter and push the thing further till the Government shows its hand. If it is prepared to. fight the bill, let it take .the responsibility:". The Minister of Health: I take it that 'statement is in good faith, /,-..•; ... •" ' Labour members: What's the bill going to.be?; . : ' : : - .

; v The ."Minister said that he knew that the prime Minister had .been considering the matter'of late, and lie intended that the bill.shquld be introduced. Mn IL T. Armstrong (tiabour, Chi'istchurch East): ' Have private members any.rights in this House at all? Labour members: No! Mr. Armstrong said it seemed that the Prime Minister did not want any Labour party members to have any credit- for the amendment to the- law. "To my mind it's mean, paltry, and. Unbecoming for•'anyone'in the' position' of Prime Minister or a'Minister of the Crown." ; "- ' '

Question of Language. Exception to the attitude and the language of the member for Wellington! Suburbs (Mr. Wright) was taken by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe), who referred to the "vendetta" Mr. Wright had been conducting against Mr. Coatea and Mr. Forbes. "In the last two or three days he has got out of hand, and has used language unfit for gentlemen," he said.

"I understood the Minister of Justice to say that my language was ungentlemanly, uncalled for, and that I would not; dare "to use it if the Prime Minister was in the House; is that correct?" said Mr. Wright. "If I had said anything I should have not, the Chairman would have called me to order. I want to' tell the Minister that I am afraid of nothing and nobody, and as long as I conform with the Standing Orders I am going to use the language." He reiterated that members' rights in the House Were gradually being frittered away, and it was time the country knew about it. "We are simply flies on the wheel. The Government is all-powerful, autocratic, and it does exactly what it pleases, and private members can simply whistle." Mr. F. Lye (Coalition United, Waikato) said that surely the Government's assurance that a bill was to be brought down was sufficient. Mr. McKeen: -Would you accept the statement that the Government was prepared to bring in a measure without knowing what was in it? "If They Look for Fight." The Minister of Labour (Hon. A. Hamilton) claimed that private members had had "a good run," and he did not think they could say that they had been unfairly treated. If the Govern.ment had wanted to kill the bill, they could have done so on the second reading, "but if they are looking for fight, they may be able to get some fight." Mr. McKeen: Is that a threat? The Minister: No, it is not a threat, but private members have had a good run. Mr. Armstrong: A private member has not been "allowed to put anything through yet. '. The Minister: The Government is responsible for what it allows to go .through the House. He pointed out that the proposals had not been considered by constituents, but the Government was quite prepared to meet its city friends.

Mr. McKeen said that he wanted, if possible to keep the bill alive. There had been no compact with the Prime Minister in the accepted sense of the term. During the second reading Mr. Forbes had seen that the majority of the House was in favour of the extension of the half-hour, and, although he had expressed his opposition to the hour, he had no objection to the period ,of the half-hour being extended. On the assurance of the Minister of Finance that legislation would be introduced, he would withdraw his bill in the meantime. Further consideration of the bill was postponed.