KEEPING PROMISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 124, 27 May 1936, Page 10

KEEPING PROMISES.

CONDUCT OF DEBATES APPEAL TO OPPOSITION. MR. FORBES' ASSURANCE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. After the Transport Licensing Amendment Bill had been read a- third time and passed in the House to-night the Minister of Education, Mr. Fraser, who, as deputy-Leader of the Government, was in charge of the House, owing to the absence at Hamilton of the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, was granted permission to ask the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Forbes, a question regarding the conduct of business. Mr. Fraser said there had to be some understanding between the Opposition and the. Government regarding the conduct of debates generally, except, of course, .when war was. declared, and then they realised that understandings were off. That night, it had been exceedingly difficult to make an arrangement. Mr. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) had given an assurance that there

would be no. speaker on the Transport Bill on the. Ppposition side after Mr. K'. J. Holyoake (National, Motueka), but there had 'been two other Opposition speakers;- ? The Government wanted to have some understanding, so it could fct on with tbe • Business of the House, fe asked the' Leader of the Opposition whether, when an arrangement had been entered into, it would be like the law of th Medes and Persians and be unbreakable. While he was not accusing anybody of bad faith, said Mr. Fraser, he would like art assurance regarding the matter, so as to get on to a solid basis which would be so much better for. all concerned. Mr. Forbes, Leader of the Opposition, said he agreed with Mr. Fraser regarding any arrangement that might be made concerning the conduct of a debate and that once one was made it should be kept. The Opposition had no desire to mislead the House and was only too willing to enter into' any reasonable' agreement. If the Opposition was going to talk it would willingly say so. Mr. Broadfoot said that he had given an assurance'regarding debate. Unfortunately the member for New Plymouthhad had some deputation, and after hearing it had decided to speak on the bill. So far as the member for Pahiatun (Sir Alfred Ransom) was concerned he had intimated to the Government Whip that he might not speak, but said ;he was not sure. That was the posii tion. I Mr. Fraser: Thank you.