HEAT IN POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 83, 5 October 1922, Page 6

HEAT IN POLITICS

LOYALTY OF PARTIES

LOOKING TO THE ELECTION

WAEM MOMENTS IN THE HOUSE,

More was heard, of the loyalty and disloyalty question in the Houseooff f Representatives last night, and the debate was' accompanied by a breeze which might have developed into a storm. Mr. Speaker had frequently to intervene, and at times there was considerable warmth.

Mr. W. A. Veifcch, who had been referring to banquet speeches, stated that the accusation 'had been made by the Leader of the Government that all those who were opposed to the Government were allied with the Red Flag.' That was equal to a charge of disloyalty, and'any man who said that he was disloyal was a perverter of the trtfth. The Prime Minister promptly rose to his feet and called Mr. Speaker's attsn- | tion to the remark. He had never air lowed anyone to call him a perverter of the truth, and he was not going to allow Mr. Veiteh to say it inside or outside the House. Mr. Speaker asked Mr. Veitoh whether he had referred in the terms specified.to the Prime Minister. Mr. Veitc]»'; "I am referring to'.tte different members -of the Government.' " The Prime Minister: ■" That is only a shuffle." Mr. Veitch: "I said that if anyone caid that I was disloyal he was a perverter of the truth." He was not allied to the Red Flag of Socialism. Mr. P. Fraser: "It's a good thing for the flag." Mr. Veiteh: "I have thought of Socialism, and I have read of Socialism, and I don't agree with it." '• Mr. Speaker: "I asked the honourable gentleman to whom .he referred, and whether he referred to a member of the i House when he made that statement." Mr. Veitch: " I referred to the Prims Minister." . Apparently Mr. Speaker did not follow Mr. Veitch'3 reply; at any rate, the point raised by the Prime Minister, was allowed to drop. A littlo later the Prime Minister returned to the charge that he had accused the Liberals of disloyalty, aiid denied it absolutely. He recalled his reference to a speech made on the West Coast by Mr. Holland, the Leader of tha Labour Party, > who said that the Liberals would only gain the Treasury benches-with the assistance of the Labour Party, which would dictate the policy. "BE FAIR." The Leader of the Opposition: "Wa don't agree with that." The Prime Minister: "I did not say you did, but I can remind the House of the negotiations which took place between the Labour Party and the Liberal Party." The Leader of the Opposition : " The Liberal Party did not negotiate wfth the I Labour Party." The Prime Minister: "Of course, there was a third party.- You will ad- ' mit that the Hon. George Fowlds and I Mr. P. J. O'Regan " I The Leader of the Opposition: "Ba | fair. You forgot to say that I told these gentlemen that my party would no 4 agree." The' Prime Minister: "But the hon., gentleman said that he would agree." The Leader of the Opposition :j" To vsecure proportional representation." The Prime Minister stated that if the Labour Party dictated the polic/it would be one of Socialism, and members of the Labour Party readily agreed. The Leader of the Opposition: "You can't'make me a Socialist." 7-

The Prime Minister V "I don't say that I can."

Further reference to Red flags, Orange fkgfe, Socialism, and loyalty sq-j. jo Ba^nmui 9Aij aiR paspiJut Prime Minister's speech; and then he proceeded to -discuss the matter before the House —the question of the proposed affiliation of the Post and TeVgraph Association to the Alliance of Labour. ■ ABOVE THE DIN. r

The Liberal Whip, Mr. G. Forbesj followed the Prime Minister in the debate, and objected strongly to statements mado bv^ Mr. 'Massey at recent gatherings of supporters of the Reform Party. In particular, he resented the suggestion that if the .Liberal, Party were returned to power—(loud Government laughter)— its policy would be dictated by the Labour Party. The Labour Party numbered nine, he said, and then proceeded to ask how those nine men could dictate to the Liberal Government unless Mr. Massey and his party stood behind Labour. He wished to ask the Prime Minister whether, in the event of the Liberals returning to power—(more Government laugnter)—he would join, -with Mr. Holland to put them out.

The Prime 'Minister rose in his seat amid uproar. " The hon. gentleman is suggesting the impossible," he declared.; His voice was drowned in the cries jroin all sides of the' House, but it emerged with tho words: " Hold on! It is cowardly to interrupt! I will~never join with the Labour Party for any purpose whatever!" . , •,.

Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) raised a point of order, and asked Mr. Speaker whether the Prime Minister was specially privileged to use the word "cowardly." Incidentally, he added that it was not a word he would be allowed to use.

Mr. Speaker replied that he did not understand 'the, hon. member to have used the word, but, turning to the Government benches, he said:. " I must ask hon. members to control themselves."

Then Dr. H. T.. J. Thacker (Christchurch East) wished to know,, on a point of order, whether the Prime Minister had the right/to get up when anither member was speaking, and address the House. Mr. Speaker replied that no one hid such a right unlsss the member speaking gave way. He again asked members to control themselves- " Th« other member did not giro way," declared Dr. Thacker.

SPECIAL PRIVILEGE?

Mr. M'Combs returned to the charge, stating that he had asserted, and other members would.bear him out, that the Prime Minister had been specially privileged to call other members in the House cowardly. Sir Maui Pomare:- " That has been ruled on." ■ - "■

Mr. Speaker: -"I have ruled on that point already." . Mr. Forbes was tlieD able to continue his speech, and said he understood the Prime Minister to say that he would not under any circumstances join with the Labour Party to put a Liberal Government out of office.

Mr. Massey: '-'I made it perfectlyclear that I did not intend to join with the extreme Labour Party for any purpose whatever." Mr. Forbes: "Well, that makes'it per: fectly clear that there could be no dictation to the Liberal Party by the Labour Party, for nine or ten members cannot dictate to tho House.''.' Mr. Forbes was going Further, but Mr. Holland raised a point of,order, suggesting that tho matter before the Houko was the report of a committee. Mr. Speaker upheld this contention,, and asked membeys to remember tha subject under; discussion*