URGENCY MOTION DEFEATED

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21033, 8 December 1933, Page 10

URGENCY MOTION DEFEATED

Gaming Amendment Bill MEASURE WITHDRAWN 11' KKSS ASSOCIATION TKLK«J RAM.) WELLINGTON, December 7. An endeavour by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) to secure urgency lor the passage of the Gaming Amendment Bill produced an interesting series of incidents, culminating with the first defeat of a Government motion for some time, in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The loudest cheering and the most vigorous applause heard in the House in recent times greeted Mr Speaker's announcement that the motion for urgency for the bill had been defeated by 36 votes to 34. Above the tumult and laughter Labour members exclaimed: "Resign."' The first opposition to the bill came when Mr Forbes moved that consideration of the Parliamentary papers should be postponed until after the orders of the day. Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) protested against this proposal, declaring that the Prime Minister was trifling with the House. He asked why the Gaming Amendment Bill should be considered before, for instance. Mr W. J. Poison's Meat Export Control Amendment Bill, which had been introduced on the first day of the session. He further contended that the motion would deprive the House of the opportunity of discussing the departmental reports. "And I might pause here to observe."' he said, "that they apparently require discussion and close scrutiny."

I Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christ- ! church South): Hear! Hear! That's the point. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) said among other things he wanted particularly to discuss was the report on Samoa. This could not be done satisfactorily when the estimates were before the House, because on that occasion members were not permitted under the standing orders to discuss policy. Surely members should be given an opportunity to discuss departmental policy as well as the accounts. The defence policy was another matter that required discussion. ! Speeches for Two Hours. For two hours members spoke in opposition to the Prime Minister's motion, submitting instances of business which, in their opinion, should precede the consideration of the Gaming Amendment Bill. Mr Forbes, replying, said the Gaming Amendment Bill had only three clauses, and could be dealt with in one hour if members would allow it to go to a division. The fact that a minority could prevent the bill from reaching a decisive stage was damaging to the prestige of Pi-rrliament. It seemed there were some members who desired to speak one way, but did not desire to vote that way, and who therefore used every endeavour to prevent a division being taken. "I don't care what happens to this bill," Mr Forbes said, "but let us get to a division on it, and then get on with our business." Mr W. J. Poison (C., Stratford), rising to a point of order, asked why his bill should be No. 29 on the order paper, when the Gaming Amendment Bill, on which there had been other opportunities for discussion, was again placed No. 1. "I don't object to this bill being dealt with," he said, "but 1 want fair play for mine. My bill has only one clause, and could be disposed of in two minutes. It has already been approved by a committee of this House." Mr Forbes said that responsible organisations from throughout New Zealand had asked for an opportunity to be given for Parliament to deal decisively with the Gaming Bill. "That is why it is at the top of the order paper," he said. Mr Forbes added that he had received no such representations in favour of Mr Poison's bill. A Point of Order. The Prime Minister then moved | for urgency for the Gaming Bill, and was greeted with cries of protest, Mr Fraser, on a point of order, asked whether Mr Forbes was moving for urgency in a private capacity or as a member of the Government.

Mr Forbes said he was acting as a member of the Government. Members: Then this is a Government bill. Mr Howard said that Mr Forbes, in asking for urgency, had not given his reasons for doing so as required by the standing orders. Mr Forbes: I gave all the reasons in my speech before moving for urgency.

Mr Speaker said he was afraid that the stipulation that reasons should be given was more honoured in the breach than in the observance. If the motion were ruled out, it was quite clear that; the Prime Minister would simply move for urgency again and give reasons for doing so. He thought the position could best be met by the Prime Minister stating the reasons. Mr Forbes: I wish to see Parliament in a position to function as Parliament, so that a bill, when it is before the House, will not be prevented from reaching a division by those who desire to prevent a division being taken.' Mr W. J. Jordan (Lab,, Manukau) submitted that Mr Forbes had not shown that urgency was required in the public interest, as stipulated by the standing orders. Mr Forbes: I think it is in the public interest that any public matter submitted to Parliament should be allowed to come to a decisive stage. I have given an undertaking to those important organisations which have approached me that that will be done. Mr W. Nash (Lab., Hutt), on a further point of order, explained that he had been paired with Mr H. G. Dickie (C.. Patea) on the Gaming Bill. Mr Dickie was not in the House, and he asked what was his own position. Should he vote on the motion before the House? Mr Speaker said that as Mr Nash was in the House after the doors had been locked he would have to vote. The usual procedure would be for Mr Nash to vote as his "pair" would have voted. Mr Nash asked whether "pairing" on a bill applied to the voting on a division on the question of urgency for that bill. Mr Speaker said he could not advise Mr Nash on that point. He

would have to leave it to the member's own conscience. (Mr Nash voted in favour of the motion—as Mr Dickie had intended to vote.) The Division. The division was as follows: Ayes (34). Bitchener Linklater Bodkin Maemillan Broadfoot Macpherson Campbell Massey. J. N. Clinkard Murdoch Coates Nash, J. A Cobbe Nash. VV. Connolly Ngata de la Perrelle Ransom Endean Reid Field Smith Forbes Stuart, A. Hamilton Sykes Hargest Te Tomo Healy Veitch Holyoake Williams Jull Young Noes (36). Anscll McSkimming Armstrong Mason Atmore Munro 1 Barnard Parry 1 Carr Poison Chapman Richards Coleman Rush worth Fraser Samuel Hawke Savage Holland, H. Schramm Howard Semple Jones Sfallworthy Jordan Stewart. \V. Downie Lang.slonc Sullivan L ee Tirikatenc Lye Webb McCombs Wright McKeen When the House resumed at 7 1 p.m. Mr E. F. Healy (C.. Wairau), ! who has been in charge of the bill, asked leave to withdraw it. He said he wished to thank the Prime Minister for his action in carrying out his word to the representatives of the Racing and Trotting Conferences, country racing clubs, racing men, and members of the public who had signed petitions presented to the House on the subject. The bill was thereupon withdrawn. "Ten absolute supporters of the Gaming Amendment Bill voted against the urgency motion, and that meant killing the bill," said Mr Healy. when interviewed this evening. He expressed appreciation of the support the New .Zealand press had given his bill.