PRIMA FACIE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 177, 28 July 1934, Page 10

PRIMA FACIE CASE.

BREACH Of PRIVILEGE.

"DUTY OF HOUSE." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON", this day. "It is my duty to say whether a prima facie case has been made our, and I have no hesitation in saying that it has. It is the duty of this House to protect members, whether they belong to the Government or are private membcre, from charges of this kind."

In these words the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Charles Statham, suggested yesterday to the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, that a question of a breach of privilege,, raised by Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Government, Marsdcn), should be referred to the Committee of Privilege.

Immediately the House met, Mr. Murdoch raised the question ae the result of an article published in the "Hawke's Bay Herald" on July 25. The extract to which exception was taken was read by the Clerk of the House. It was as follows:—

"Politics was approaching the stage where scientific control was needed to replace control by people who were characterised by administrative ignorance. The Government's hietory was a history of incompetence—of graft and corruption—and of commissions appointed to do the work which Parliament had not the brains to do. Honour was sacrificed for political advantage. The country was bankrupt financially and pretty well bankrupt morally.' .

On the Prime Minister's motion, the matter was referred to the Committee of Privilege.

REPORT OF WOMAN'S ADDRESS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. The question of privilege raised in the House of Representatives relates to the report of a meeting addreesed by Mies G. Hamilton Fraser, who has been associated with a petition that is being circulated hero for the dissolution of Parliament.