A SIDELIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 67, 16 September 1927, Page 8

A SIDELIGHT

EXCHANGES IN HOUSE

A "SUMMER TIME" INCIDENT

STATEMENT EESENTED

During his "swan *song" on the Summer Time Bill in the House of Kepresentatives last night, when the third reading was under consideration, Mr. W. S. Glenn (Bangitikei) attacked the Labour Party in regard to statements said to have been made by Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau).

M. Glenn said that Mr. Jordan had cast a reflection on the Bmall, hardworking farmers of the country. "Tonight," said Mr. Glenn, "the member for Manukau is away speaking on the public platform • and organising an election at Kaglan, but he knew that I was going to give it to him. " iPivo members of this House took a note of what he said, and I've got it here in black and white. I would be very sorry to misquote the hon. gentleman wrongly." (Laughter.) Mr. Glenn proceeded to quote from tho report of Mr. Jordan's remarks as taken Sown by five: members of tho House.

Labour members immediately' protested, that the report of the remarks was not correct, and asked who had taken a note of the remarks. - Mr. Glenn: "The member for Tauranga and the member for Waikato took it down." ; A SHOBTHAND WHITER? Mr, P. Eraser (Wellington Central): "Do they write shorthand?" | Mr. Glenn: "Oh, it's not necessary to write shorthand to take down a few words. What I want to know is this: Will the Leader o£ the Opposition support what Mr. Jordan said or will he repudiate it?*' Mr. H. E. Holland: "Will the' Leader of your party stand for thing that you say?" Mr. Glenn: "I don't have to ask my party what I say. lam a party unto myself. (Laughter.) All my resolutions are passed unanimously. (Benewed laughter.) I know this, that when the farmers of New Zealand hear what the member for Manukau has said the Labour Party will not get one vote from the farming community. They won't have a dog's chance:" Mr. Fraser:-"I have spoken!" TIME—AND NO EXTENSION. At this.stage Mr. Speaker rang the bell to indicate thatJUr. Glenn had but five minutes left in which to speak. Mr. Fraser was at once on his feet to move for an extension of time. There was a chorus of approval, and Mr. Glenn was about to thank the, House for the concession, when Mr. Speaker informed him that the extension was not granted, one member (Mr. J. S. Dickaon) having declined to assent.

Mr. Glenn was somewhat taken aback, but he. had the sympathy of Mr. 3?raser. "That's a rotten thing to do," commented the member for Wellington Central.

Mr. Fraser's sympathy, however, did not soften Mr. Glenn's heart, and he proceeded to attack the Labour Party again. He dwelt on the effect that Mr. Jordan's statement was likely to have on the farmers of the Dominion. "They will know what to do in the future," concluded Mr. Glenn. "They are not going to stand still and take this thing...lying down." (Laughter.) . ;. -•••■■■■'■'.■••■.. .' . "A CONCOCTION." Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) declared with emphasis that the alleged statement of the member for Manukau was a concoction and totally misrepresented what Mr. Jordan had said. "The remarks that have been made to-night would never have been made if there had not been a by-elec-tion in progress, at Kaglan," declared Mr. Armstrong. "It's a move to damage he prospects of the Labour candidate at Baglan." A Beform member: "Ho hasn't a chance, anyway." Mr. Armstrong: "He has a better chance than many of the Reform members will have at the next election." Mr. Armstrong went on to say that Mr. Jordan had on no occasion discredited the farmers of the Dominion, lint he had attacked "the miserable specimens" who were representing the farmers in the House.

Mr. Speaker: "Orderl Order! The hon. member must withdraw that statement."

Mr. Armstrong: "Very well, Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw. But I want to say this, that there are members in this House who are incapable of talking about anything else but eowyards and piggeries." Mr. C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga) supported Mr. Glenn, and said that he had .personally taken a note of what Mr. Jordan had said. Mr. Eraser: "What experience have had as a shorthand writer?" Mr. Macmillan: "I am not a short- 1 hand ■•writer, but I've had thirty years' experience of taking minutes and I've never had them questioned yet," Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) said that he was. firmly of the opinion that the report had not been taken down by memberß of the House at all, but by somebody sitting in the gallery. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Ohinemuri) said he thought the statement uncalled for, unwarranted, and foolish. "I trust," he said, "that the Labour Party will not go to the farmers at the next election and say they have their welfare absolutely at heart."

"PRODUCE THE NOTES." The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H E. Holland) suggested that the five original notes should be produced; any member of the House with ordinaryknowledge of the processes of journalism would then be able to gauge their value. Mr. Glenn had had three weeks in which-to protest against the alleged statement, but he only raised the question, when Mr. Jordan was absent.

The Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leoa) said that he had not heard the statement made by Mr. Jordan, but from what ho had read in the Evening Post" he had formed the conclusion that it would be a very difficult matter for Mr. Jordan to explain. The Mimster said that he knew a lot about thoEaglan by-election, and ho for one would resent a suggestion that the tactics employed there were unfair to any party "If as a party we can't win the election in the fight that we can put up," said Mr. M'Leod, "then iam sure that.we won't win it by misrepresentation.", r

Mr W. Parry (Auckland Central) declared that Mr. Jordan's speech referred not to the farmers but to the farmers' representatives in the House fWM -a I' **wara (ChristcWh South) aaia he Ult the attack had been made with the object of drawing tho Opposition members into tho debate and bo holding up the BilL

A story of an incident which might possibly have had more serious consequences comes from Wanganui, says an exchange. Two insurance agents were inspecting a property on which a bous.o had been recently destroyed by fire when their attention was drawn by the' leapmgg of a dog which had boen rummaging in the debris. It was discovered that the electric power had not been turned off and the animal had received a severe shock from a point.