THOUGHTS AND VOTES.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 8

THOUGHTS AND VOTES.

Charges of voting one way and thinking another were not infrequent during the discussion on the report of the Pensions Department in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday afternoon. When Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) was speaking he was subjected to interjections from the Government benches, and he caused somo amusement by referring to United Party backbenchers as political Lilliputians.

The member for Parnell (Mr. J. S. Fletcher) lost no time in catching the eye of Mr. Speaker when Mr. Samuel resumed his seat. "I would rather be a political Lilliputian who believes something and votes that way than a Keform Party giant who thinks one way and votes another," declared Mr. Fletcher.

Government members: "Oh, who is this?" '

Mr. Fletcher- "The member for Thames." Mr. Fletcher said when during the last Parliament Mr. "\V. E. Parry (the member for Auckland Central) moved an amendment urging a liberalisation of the pensions law Mr. Samuel, with all the members of the Keforni Party, voted against it. (Laughter.) Mr. Samuel: "Be fair. Give the reasons."

Mr. Fletcher: "Half an hour after the vote was taken Mr. Samuel rose in his seat and said he was in favour of liberalising tho pension system."