AN ANGRY MEMBER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3173, 25 August 1917, Page 8

AN ANGRY MEMBER

INCIDENT IN THE HOUSE

"YOU ARE A RUDE MAN!"

The member for Waipawa was ail unwilling party to an unpleasant; incident in the House ot' Representatives last night. He is one of the members of ths House who never finds it necessary to say unkind words, but last night Mr. Wilford accused hini of rudeness! In Committee discussion on the Estimates Mr. Hunter spoko of tho hard treatment by the Pensions Board of Private Scrivens. a resident of Dannevirke. He said that Scrivens had joined the Main Body and served at Gallipoli and iu France for twelve months. He came back to New Zealand a rheumatic cripple, practically permanently disabled. He was given a pension for twelve months, and at the expiry of the period it wag cancelled for the reason given that his disability- had been incurred prior to • enlistment. Mr. Wilford advised Mr. Hunter to 1 mention the case of Rae when renewing '■ the application. Rae's application had ' now been granted. Mr. Hunter said that he would deal with the ease and leave , (lie honourable .member for Halt I to deal with such other applicants ■ as came to him. Mr. Wilford became very angry. He 1 shouted: "Next time yon -want assist- , ancei don't come to me. You are a rude ; man.- I will dress you down in a minute, ; Ynu see if I don't." Mr. Hunter: All I have said is that' • you arc quite competent to deal with I claims put before you, and that I am. • quite competent to deal with claims put I before me. ; Mr. Wilford: Jf you gave a little mors money to the patriotic funds instead oj ■ advice you would be better. ITr. Hunter did not reply, but went on (o relate the fact.; about the Scrivena case, but again Mr. Wilford interrupted. He said, still angrily: Why don't you give liim a pension yourself? Yon can. afford it." Mr. Hunter: "I don't want to say what I have'done in regard to this man; because I think it is pretty-well known ; except, to ilie member for Hutt." Mr. Hunter was allowed at length to finish ' his statement regarding Scrivens. The facts were that the man had ail cxcelIfnt record of service in the field, "and that for several -years before the war lie had never suffered froin rheumatism, or from any other ill-health. Mr. referred to the matter Inter. He said that amongst lawyers it was the custom to give one another assistance in pointing out where to find leading cases. He had ventured to point. • out to the member for Waipawji a case decided by the Pensions Board recently, which was pxactly similar, he said, to that to which Mr. Hunter had referred. "And," ho said, "I ' got the sneering, contemptuous article of the man ."who is only proud because he ia full of riches." There were cries of remonstrance from the Reform benches. Mr. Wilford: Oh, well I felt it, and I am saying so. . ■ . I got a reply I didn't expect, but I might have- — The Chairman called Mr. Wilford to order. Mr. l Vernon Reed began to speak of tho matter. "I listened to the member for Hawke's Bay (Waipawa) when he was referring to this particular matter. When ho was speaking of his case the member for Hutt, in his usual pushing way Jfr. Malcolm rose and called "Order! Mr. Wilford: Never mind him. Wo take no notice of a rat: Again there wero erics of indiguation from members. Mr. Malcolm: While I am in the chaip - I consider it my duty to prevent all reference to personalities. I would ask the . honourable gentleman not to proceed in ■thnt direction. Mr. Hunter:,T should like to ask your ruling ns to whether I should be ill .order in making-a.personal explanation in regard to tho remark made by Mr., "Syilford: •• Mr. Chairman: T ruled thp remarks of the member for Hutt out of order, and all -reference; to them v:il] be> also out of order.Mr. Harris tried to speak oil the incident. He wns i suggesting that the ennsa of t''C trouble wa« a misunderstanding merely, but Mr. Chairman said: "The honourable member must resume" his seat. The whole matter is irrelevant to the Estimates.'.'' .