THE "STONEWALL"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 11

THE "STONEWALL"

OBSTRUCTION.IN HOUSE

RESUMED THIS AFTERNOON

The Labour "stonewall" to obstruct 'the-,,Government's wage cut proposals was resumed in the House of Representatives this, afternoon. The Committee of. the Whole House was still, dealing with. Clause 1, the short title, of the Bill, and at 3 p.m. only four members ■of the Labour; Party had exhausted, the right1 allowed1 them.by. the Standing Orders to speak four times for 10 minutes each on the motion before tho House, "that the - short'title be; agreed to." It' wasplain that if the obstructionists chose .tlioy could keep the.ball rolling merrily 'for.;a.'.further .eight hours.. It was fully; expected that beforo all had used up; .thoi.r; "Opportuuities to speakan amendment "suggesting a'different title would be introduced, giving each member further rights of speech. '■'.. '■''•■ . j As'the procedure oh the short title permits of references to any.. of the clauses iii' the Bill, the "stonewallers" ]iave':-a!niple' scope for talk. ■Mr.-W.; Nash-(Labour, JTu'tt) deplored the reduction- of grants to hospital boards, education boards, and University Colleges."' Thoso were two items wjiich should not be .curtailed in any circumstances. The Unemployment Board could not carry tho load unless it received further .help from the Government,'and thus,: further responsibility would fall on the social services applied by the hospital boards. At?..'2,4o*'p.ni; .Mr.VAV. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) made a plea for special consideration' for the workers of tho'-Hawlccs Bay district, who-had suffered through'the'earthquake. • Mr. H. M. Campbell (Eeforin, Hawkcs Bay) suggested to tire. Prime Minister that lie should delay ilie efl'ect of the Bill.so far as it affected people in the earthquake area, whoso, had been da-maged, and.;-who wcro hard put to.-it. It would only apply, to married men with, homes, and the number would :iot be very great. He suggested that they should be exempted from the proposals for, say1, "twelve.months.:. The Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes): "I Will be pleased to go into it.".1. '■. .-.:■-. -.'- ;.■ - Mr. H. E. Holland: "The Prime Minister has spoken at last." (Laughter.) In .further, reply to-Mr. W.. Nash '(Labour, Hutt), Mr. Forbes said that the reduction referred only to the salaries of hospital * board employees, which would be reduced by 10 per cent.; it had nothing whatever to do with the functions of/ the hospital boards. Mr. Forbes said that if Mr. Nash had read carefully clause 7 of- tho Bill, ■which reduced grants to local authorities, he would have, seen that. . Mr. Nash: "It doesn't say that in the clause.1" : Mr. Forbes: "I don't want to deprive, the honourable gentleman of making a speech, but: it is clear that this refers to salaries only." As the Prime-Minister sat down there was a burst of applauso from the Labpur benches.

(Proceeding.)