THREAT CARRIED OUT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19735, 27 September 1929, Page 10

THREAT CARRIED OUT.

MR M'DOUGALL AGAIN. KEEPING THE HOUSE IN ORDER. [THE PBEBB Special Service.] WELLINGTON, September 20. Emerging from a period of temporary obscurity, Mr David McDougall, Government member for Mat aura, came once more into the limelight in the House of Representatives this evening, when he carried out his threat to oppose extensions of time to any but Party Leaders. A vigorous denunciation of the Government's land taxation was being launched by Mr David Jones, Reform member for Mid-Canterbury, and Mr Speaker's bell rang to denote that Mr Jones's half hour was nearing a close. Mr F. Lang-stone, Labour member for Waimarino, rose to move the customary courtesy extension of time, but there was muttered dissent from the Government benches. Mr McDougall then rose. "I objeet," he said. "I have given ample notice before that I would do so." Mr McDougall was intent on making ay. explanation of his unusual action, but Mr Speaker said no explanation was called for. Mr McDougall was persistent. "I want to say that I will not object to an extension of time to the Hon. Mr Downie Stewart, because I consider him to be the only financial authority in the Reform Party," he said. Mr Speaker put the question, adding that there appeared to be no objection. . "Yes," said Mr McDougall. "Does the honourable member still object?" asked Mr Speaker. "Yes," repeated Mr McDougall. Mr Jones accordingly continued for only a few minutes longer. Mr McDougall's Party loyalty was tested later in the evening, when tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr Coates, moved that the time of the next speaker, the Hon. Mr Ransom, Minister for Public Works, be extended. Mr McDougall at once rose. "No," he said. Mr Coates (waving Mr McDougall to sit down): Just a moment, please. The question is so important that I would like the Minister to continue. He is making a good speech from his point of view, and he'is making an examination. That is what we want. "No," called Mr McDougall again. "Oh, yes, please," pleaded Mr Coates. Mr McDougall held his ground, and registered dissent when the question of an extension was put. The Minister was not perturbed. He said he quite agreed with Mr McDougall that except to the^' Party Leaders extensions of time sliould not be granted. He hoped that the rule would be carried out in all the debates. "While I : n here it will be," declared Mr McDougall. Mr McDougall's action was sharply criticised by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, Reform member for Riccarton. "I do not want an extension," he said when his warning bell rang, "but when a man like the member for Mid-Canterbury is speaking on such an important subject, I say it is a wrong thing to have a political clown in the Party to bring the speaker down.'' Mr Speaker ordered the withdrawal of the expression, and Mr Kyle complied.