MEMBER WARNED

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 16, 13 October 1933, Page 10

MEMBER WARNED

Reference to Prime Minister

A warning that if he attempted to ■ trifle with the chair he would be asked to resume his seat was administered t>o Mr. W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manukau) by the Speaker, Sir*Charles Statham, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. Jordan was discussing the report on the World Economic and Monetary Conference, and in the course of his criticism referred to the “Prime Minister and his hirelings.” Mr. Jordan was immediately called to order. “I will withdraw the word ‘hirelings’,” he said, “but I will say those who do the Prime Minister’s bidding. The Prime Minister will know what I mean by that.” For a second time Mr. Speaker called Mr. Jordan to order. He inquired if, when Mr. Jordan referred to those who were prepared to do the bidding of the Prime Minister, he meant the same thing as when he used the word “hirelings.” Mr. Jordan indicated he had withdrawn his original reference to the Prime Minister, whereupon Mr. Speaker told him not to trifle with the chair. If he did so he would have to ask him to resume his seat. He had already asked’ him if he meant the same thing as “hirelings” when he spoke of those who were “prepared to do the bidding of the Prime Minister.” Mr. Jordan: No, I did not. Mr. Speaker: It is a pity you did not clear the point up when asked to do so. Mr. Jordan said he had no intention of reflecting on the Prime Minister.