REPORTED CAUCUS DISPUTE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 12

REPORTED CAUCUS DISPUTE

STATEMENT BY MISS HOWARD

Miss M. B. Howard, M.P., last evening replied to a report from the Parliamentary reporter of “The Press,” printed on Saturday, which mentioned her irregular attendance in the House of Representatives and a caucus dispute. “I have been as often in my seat as many other members, and at least I am working and not wasting my time in the billiards room,” Miss Howard said.

“No scene has ever taken place In caucus. Mr Mathison offered me a cup of coffee, saying: ‘Coffee, Mabel?’ I replied: ‘No thanks, Jock.’ I have not had three cups of coffee id so many months,” Miss Howard said. “Coffee at present is not good. So much for the so-called ‘spurned’ coffee. “The caucus was held in the morning, after which we went to lunch. Your reporter is wrong again when he said the incident came after an interrupted lunch. At lunch an offensive remark was passed at the table, so I left and continued an excellent meal in the next room. There was no scene, tearful or otherwise,” Miss Howard said. “However, we are indebted to your correspondent for at last pin-pointing where the leak is’in our caucus,” Miss Howard said. “Your reporter has never at any time approached. me on this matter, but as apparently there is now no need to keep caucus happenings confidential, I would advise him to see me. I could tell him plenty.”