ATTITUDE OF MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 4, 29 September 1939, Page 11

ATTITUDE OF MINISTER

Hostility Alleged

MR. NASH’S REPLY TO QUESTION

Heated Passages In House

A claim by Mr. Coates (Opposition. Kaipara) that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, had side-step-ped an urgent question on the subject of import licences put to him by Mr. Coales in the afternoon had a sequel in the House of Representatives last night during the second reading debate on the Customs Acts Amendment Bill. Admitting that he was hot under the collar. Mr. Coates charged the Minister with hostility in his answers to questions apd an element of arrogance. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, rose immediately M r. Coates sat down, and speaking with .feeling, alleged that an unwarranted and unprovoked attack had been made on Mr. Nash. “When we ask the Minister of Finance a question and ask for an explanation, what kind of answers do we get from the bon. gentleman?” Mr. Coates asked. “It is well that members and the country should know it. Questions are met with hostility and his answers show an element of arrogance. Questions have been asked which demand a reply.” So far as import restrictions were concerned, Mr. Coates said the Minister had got himself into his present position by the policy that had been pursued in spite of all warnings. I* the offer of co-operation made by the Opposition was to be met by statements that could be expected from a dictator, then what could the answer be? “I for one am not going io accept some of the answers that I have received from the Minister of Finance a? being suitable to the occasion,” Mr. Coates declared. “There are some who say the war was a Godsend for the Labour Party. I wonder whether it was? I cannot imagine it being a Godsend for anybody. The whole position in regard io imports and exchange requires a clear-cut statement in order that the people of this country may know what the position is. Side-step-ping, half-answered questions and lame answers won’t do at all. . “I am hot under the collar, but it is better for all of us now to speak our minds plainly,” Mr. Coates added. ‘ I am not prepared to allow the war to hide up anything. I am prepared to put up any sort of fight to have the truth out.”

Tone of Speech Regretted.

Mr. Fraser said he could only regret the tone of Mr. Coates’s speech. He thought it was not helpful, and a quite vindictive and unexampled personal attack on the Minister. I le bad not heard anything like it. since 'he had been a member of the House. Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford): The Acting-Prime Minister was not in the House when the incident occurred. Mr. Fraser: 1 was in the House when the Minister of Finance said he had given the answer to the question the previous day. Proceeding, Mr. L’rnser said he certainly did not think the personal attack the House had just listened to wns helpful. Co-operation was too big a price if any of the Government members were to be singled out from the rest in that way. “I am not going to stand by and allow one of our Ministers to be singled out on a policy we are all responsible for,” Mr. Fraser continued. “We are all responsible, and. we all take the full responsibility. We will go on whether we get the co-operation of members opposite or not. We are ready to hold out the hand of co-operation, but we are not going to stand silent when any of our member® are singled out for a quite unwarranted and unprovoked attack. The Government has to be treated as a Government and no members singled out for assassination as long as we are hero.” Issue of Import Licences. In his question to the Minister of Finance at the afternoon sitting, -Mr. Coates asked whether the Government was aware that due to the delay in issuing third period import licences, not only for finished goods but also for raw materials, the majority of manufacturers would have to close their factories early next year, and warehousemen their warehouses. He also asked If the Minister would take immediate action to have licences issued without further delay. “Normally it takes about two months to obtain delivery from manufacturers in England, and two months to effect

shipment,” Mr. Coates said. “Due to war conditions in England the majority of manufacturers are asking three months, and in addition there is uncertainty as to the regular sailing of ships from England. Even if the licences were issued at the present time, the goods could not possibly arrive till early February, and as far as manufacturers of goods are concerned the factories will presumably have to remain closed till these goods arrive. An Earlier Question. The ’Minister said that he had already replied to the same question asked by another member earlier in the week. The Speaker, Mr. Barnard, said that the question was not the same, or he would not have allowed it to be asked. Mr. Nasli intimated that he had no other reply to make. Mr. Coates: You are side-stepping. You have not answered my question.

Power to postpone local body elections by Order-in-Couucil for a period not exceeding a year is given by a clause which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday for inclusion in the Statutes Amendment. Bill This provision will remain in force till the end of 1940, and is intended as a war emergency measure.