A DRAMATIC CLIMAX

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 31 March 1931, Page 9

A DRAMATIC CLIMAX

HEATED SCENES IN THE HOUSE

LABOUR PARTY LEAVES CHAMBER

A dramatic climax marked the adoption by ibe .House of lie- . presentatives of the Government's closure motion early this morning, when, claiming that they were ihc victims of a political subterfuge, die members of the Labour Party bodily left the Chamber in preference to voting for a Reform amendment limiting iho operation of the new Standing Order to the life of the present Parliament. Events moved swiftly after the fifth and final Labour amendment had been disposed of at 12.45 a:m. Mr. J. A. Young ' (Reform, Hamilton) raised a storm in the Labour camp by proposing the limitation referred to, and the Prinie Minister's intimation that he would accept the amendment was followed by a bitter ex- ; change of party recriminations. Criticism became harsher with each Labour speech, and a sensation was caused by Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) who, speaking under considerable'emotion, shouted a parting shot: "We will leave the dirty business to the dirty people who moved it." The remarks were withdrawn at the instance of Mr. Speaker. The Chamber. was barren of Labour members when the Reform amendment was put, and it was . expected that the proposals would be carried on the voices. A challenge, however, came from two .Government members, Colonel T. W. M'Donald;and Mr. D. M'Dougall, and llic 'Government was forced to a division. "The amendment was carried by 43 voles to to 6. The Labour Parly then filed back into their benches to the accompaniment of Reform applause. Before the final division was taken at 2.30 a.m. the Prime Minister, replying lo the debate, ■ expressed the hope lhat after the passage of the Finance Bill it would not again be necessary to apply the closure. By 48 votes to 21 the House agreed to the introduction of the closure for the 23rd Parliament, and die House adjourned until 10 a.m.

Whon tho last Labour amendments to J*. do,™ .otioa had bee* disposed of, Mr. J. A. Young \(Beform, Hamilton) moved that the new Standing Orider. should operate only during the cur- . leney of the present Parliament. The . ■ proposa 1 should be regarded as an emergency proposal, ho said. ': • The amendment was seconded by Mr. 4 H. 8. S. Kyle (Reform, Riccarton), who i said that.the present position m, the House had been brought about as a rekult of tho threo-party system. " ,velopmcnt," said the Leader of the Lajbour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland): "On one hand wo have the Government al- ■ .tering tho rules in the middle of the game, and on the other hand, we have the Opposition endeavouring to lay it ■ . down that the elosuro is not to apply to anybody else except tho Labour Party. mi t t. -n , < l ■ + •The Labour Party is not going to ac- . pept that position. is taking precautionary steps to see I^V^TZJFTS? 13 to be used agamst them then. "The Labour Party is not going to ~ . .. '.• - ~. " , toto for tho extension of the closuro . JB-ny longer than is. necessary, but it is certainly not going to vote to have tho it^Ti agtin?fc itS6uf -,°^' I think that if wo had ever had a demon- . Btration of administrative weakness from the Government benches wo have had it to-night. ATtTPr«r< wpAirwvoo ABJECT WEAKNESS. "We have had a demonstration of ' iniost abject weakness from tho Governjneut. We, have seen tho control of tho business of the , Houso. removed from tho hands of tho Government and a motion tantamount to a motion of . lio-conndenco moved from the Opposition benches. And the Primo Minister ■ 5s sitting in his soat and, is not saying ■whether ho is going to accept tho amendment or treat it as a motion of no-confidence. It is apparently tho de.termination of the Eeform Party to en- - cure that the amendment applies.only 1o tho Lubour Party. I take it that the motion which lias been moved by .Iho member for Hamilton represents •the views of Iho Keform Party. That being so, what is the position of the Primo Minister and his colleagues on the Treasury benches? If tho Prime Minister-will say that ho is going to treat tjiis motion as one of no-confl-Hence wo will support it. If he is go- . . ing to accept it, then wo are not going to vote to have the gag applied to the Labour Party only. I shall await ■ .with'very great intorost the statement which the Pritno Minister is going to piakc." ■ AMENDMENT ACCEPTED. The Prune Minister said it was very refreshing at that timo of the morning to find that the Leader of the Labour Party was so optimistic as to think , that ho would bo in a position to use V?rZ*Z ffcaTl?™£ °'aep. i^th. c next Parliament. (Laughter.) During the whole of tho consideration of the Standing Orders, it had been his main aim to get the business of the House tiirougu. Labour members: "By gagging us." Mr. Jiorbes: "I havo been willing to Tccept amendments from tho Labour benches as well as any others. I don't antend to make this a no-confidence . amendment. In fact, I .think tho ITouse is pretty well unanimous about n. L have no hesitation m accepting tho amendment." (Labour laughter.) 'Vyo havo just witnessed the most pmazing and most discreditable oxhibilion," said Mr. P. EYasor (Labour, Wellington Central). -Mr. Speaker: "Order! Order! Tho , lion, gentleman must withdraw." , Mr. Frascr: "Very well, I will say •that it reflects the least credit on tho Prime Minister. Further than that, I ■will say that it is briuging tho Standing ■ Orders of this Houso into disrepute. It is making a fsirco of tho whole thing, If the Pnmo Minister would accept an amendment applying the new Standing ,°™ *° the La]>ol!r Pnrly only it would bo uioro straightforward on his party. Such an action as this should bnng a Mush of shamo to the face of every member of this House." Mr. Speaker: "Order! Order! The Hon. gentleman's language j 3 getting too strong." & * STA*^ Or HOKO TO . Mr. Fraser: "My language is not as strong as my feeling. The Government must realise that they can't do this , sort of thing and carry the country wtih them The Standing Orders are cither good or bad. If they arc good, then thoy should be passed for all time and not for one Parliament. If a Bill ,was introduced into Parliament for the purposo of singling out a special section of the community to be legislated against for a few weeks or a year, what honourable member would staud for it? Aftor all, there is a standard of honour among members of ihis Houso. This - thing is noL creditable, find there is not another Parliament in t,lic world that would stand for it. Ju Uio worst days of coercion in Iho House of Commons, there was never any Standing Order passed to apply solely to Hin Irish .members. jf the Primo Minister accepts this amendment—and apparently

he has—it is just another step in tho Jg»^&*« J^*^ j don , t kn(nT that any part j. cm ]& sink lower than this party has sunk." A "FREE-JOR-ALL." R , Howard (LaW) Christchurch s out h) said it was apparent that the Reform Party did not want to take tho wholo of tho responsibility for the -w *^™£tf^™£ worgt part of it> "I uotiee that the Leader of the Opposition did not move this amendment," said Mr. Howard. thafc j -^^la ]ik e to use.", ]\if. Coates: "I suggest that we have a 'free-for-all' for a few minutes." Mr. Howard ;! <^wisWe could." gccon j k cs t.» M r Howard: "Probably tho Right Honourable gentleman could outdo me ™ Billil 'Ss ga IJ tci I haA" c ,' 10 (lo«bt .about that. Tho Kcfonn Party wants to gag thQ Labour PaTt y." ( Eeform members: "Oh, no." "f^,^e?«# a arXdown yet." m£ Howard: "It is using* the strengt h of a party to defeat a party which happens to be in the minority. Tho Standing Orders wril not permit to °c; av w g hat x think about it all. t j, at j can sa y i s that lam very sorry that this has' happened." SCREAMING FABCE. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) said that the wholo position had developed into a screaming farce. Tho Reform and United Parties were anxious to cscapo from what had been done, and they had seized the only way out. "They recognise that thoy have done a wrong thing," said Mr. Sullivan, "and they feel it incumbent onftliem to limit the thing as soon as possible. Tho Primo Minister apparently realises that ho' has done the wrong thing, and he wants it to cease operating as soon as possible, Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East): "As soon as ho has pinched the workers' wages.'' Mr. Speaker: "Order! Or.dor!" Mr. Sullivan: "A.t-the dictation of the member for Hamilton, tho Governmont has admitted that ifc is ashamed of tho step it has taken. I don't think thoro'is a single member in tho House who agrees with what has been dono to-night, or feels satisfied about it. I never thought,l would sit in,this House and listen to a Liberal Prime Minister doing what has been.-done to-night." Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour, Westl.md) said tho move on tho part of tho ReformParty had been very well done, very cunningly done. "Nothing so unfair as this has ever been proposed," declared Mr. J. M'Combs (Labour, Lyttelton). "I donst know that there has ever been anything loss statesmanlike. It is tho most discreditable thing that has ever been dono in any Parliament." „„„ LACKING- IN DECENCY. ■ 'Mr p Langstonc (Labour, Waimarino) said the Primo Minister's actioil ' ved that there was an agreeraoat between tho United and Eeform p art ies. It also proved' that tho closure was un fair and that it was doliberately aimed at the Labour bonehes. TilQ latesfc movo by tho two parties i ac iced common decency towards the Labour Party - Mr. Speaker: "Order!" j, Lr Langstouo said that the action of the two parties was not a credit to thorn <j itnC r morally or intellectually. t, l call]lo t support the amendment," gaicl Mr . yr. d. Lysnar (Independent, Gisborne). "It is unconstitutional and unreasonable to provide for a limited per i o d. If it docs not seem right, the i r couri)O 5s t0 repeal it." Ho said that nc \ )ai \ agreed to the amendment 1o t } lo stiinding Ordors because of the conditions which had arisen, but it was no^ right to put it/into forco for a limited period. ' "Never in tlic history of Parliament ] ias there been such bare-faced class bias," said Mr. Armstrong. "And class hatred," interjected Mr. Semplo CLASS HATRED. ■ , , Mr.' Armstrong: "Yes, and hatred. There is class hatred in tho resolution , now before the House, and agreed to, by the United Party and Eeform Party. | Wo will now retire from tho House—j at lcaatj j h O p e all my colleagues willi £US»1" ZS^Xt S unfair business. We will leave the dirty business to the dirty people who moved it." , rm Mr Speaker: "Order! Order! The honourable gentleman must withdraw that statement." Mr Armstrong: "Out of respect to you, Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw." # Mr. Speaker: "You must withdraw it unconditionally.'? Mr. Armstrong: "I will withdraw it unreservedly, but I will speak plainer when I am out of tho House." At this stago several Labour mombers were leaving tho chamber, and they beckoned two or thrco times to Mr. Armstrong, who had resinned his seat, and ho followed thorn. Mr. W. .1. Jordan (Labimr, MaunUau) also intimated that ho would leave the chamber as soon as he had finished speaking. "The newspapers," lie said, "will not tell Ihc people what.

has happened. They arc like' the Government; they arc in the pay of the financiers in. London." Mr. Speaker: "Order!" Mr. Jordan: "I will say that they are working 5u the interests of the financiers in London." The Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. A. Veiteli): "A point of order, Mr. Speaker. Tho honourable member lias said that the Government are in the pay of the financiers in London." Mr. Jordan: "1 : believo they arc." Mr. Speaker: ".'I must ask you to withdraw that remark." Mr. Jordan:"l will withdraw it." He said that apparently tho Government was altering the Standing Orders for the sole purpose of preventing the Labour Party from making its protest against tho legislation before the House. Tho closure would mean that those people whom tho members of tho Labour Party represented would not have a say in the discussions that were taking place. This would mean that 200,000 people would bo disfranchised. LABOXTR MEMBERS LEAVE. As Mr. Jordan finished the few members of the Labour Party ■remaining, headed by their leader (Mr. Holland), left the chamber to the accompaniment of laughter from the Reform benches and' smiles from the Government benches. The amendment was then put, and was challenged by Colonel T. W. M' Donald (United, Wairarapa), and D. M'Dougall (United,-Mataura), who called for a division. Tho amendment was carried by 43 votes to 6, tho dissentients being Colonel M'Donald, and Messrs. M'Dougall, Lysnar, G. C. Black, (Independent, Motueka), J. T. Hogan (Independent, Bangitikei), and T. Makitanara (United, Southern Maori). Immediately after tho result of the division was declared, the Labour members returned to the chamber amidst applause from the Reform benches, and an interjection from Mr. J. Bitchener (Reform^ Waitaki): "Don't ' run away." NO ALTERNATIVE. Mr: P. leaser (Labour, -Wellington Central) said that the members of the Labour Party had had no alternative but to withdraw' froni the chamber. If they had voted for the amendment it would have meant they were voting against their being able to protest against''tho legislation before the House. If they had voted against it they would have been voting foi' a Standing Order which would have hindered the discussion in future Parliaments. If the Standing Orders wero to bo amended they should be thoroughly reviewed and revised when there was a state of calm. They should not be amended in a time of hcatod strife and controversy. The whole tiling was a subterfuge. NO CAUSE FOR HEAT. Replying to the debate at 2 a.m., tho Prime Minister said he did not think there had been any occasion for heat. The long debate on the Finance Bill was the real reason for the introduction of the closure. Mr. Semplo: "Don't put that slobber over." The Prime Minister: "We have had four nights of obstruction, as well as the threat that there would be no business done in this Parliament. Wo wero repeatedly told from the Labour benches that if it came to a question of Bitting it through and of wanting sleep, thoy would not need any sleep." Mr. Scmplc: "Oh, sing it!" Tho ■ Primo Minister said that the history of other countries showed that the closuro had been adopted to meet emergencies and where it had been found impossible for a majority to reach a decision. A Labour,member: "You don't call yourself a majority." The Prime Minister retorted that it was most undemocratic for any body of men to try to bring tho democratic machine to a standstill by the abuse of the Standing Orders of a Parliament. Another Labour member: "You have done it yourself. Anyhow you are a minority." PRIME MINISTER'S POSITION. The Primo Minister: "In tho present emergency something had to be done and no ono could conceive of any lcador of a House sitting idly-by and seeing tho whole thing , brought to nought." Further Labour interjectors were rebuked by Mr. Speaker, who threatened to name membors if they persisted. Tho Primo Minister said the Labour Party knew full well that action would bo taken to counter the obstructionist tactics. The closuro motion, he know, had como as no surprise to them. In similar circumstances they would have followed eactly the same ;course. Mr. Semple:'.'Never." ■ , The Prime Minister repeated that important legislation was dependent on the passage of tho Finance Bill: a great deal hinged on that measure reaching tho Statute Book. It meant so much to the country, and unless it were passed and the finances placed on a sound basis, the Government would not bo in. a position to deal with tho other legislation. Mr. Semplo: "Sock in tho earthquake again." "Tho closure is the burglar's crowbar," said Mr. Sullivan. "ONLY WHEN NECESSARY." The Prime Minister: "I hope that when the Finance Bill is through, the use of the closure can bo discarded. I trust the occasion will never arise for its, employment again. . . It will only be put into, operation when it is necessary, and I say we have reached a stage when it was necessary." Drifting into humorous vein, . the Prime Minister commented on the absence of the Labour Party during the division, observing that thoir position was a difficult one. Ho did not think anyone liked being placed in such an awkward predicament. There were difficult motions and difficult divisions. (Laughter.) Mr. Forbes added that had the opposition to the Finance Bill been abandoned, thore would have boon no use for the closnre at all. He was concluding liis remarks when Mr. O'Brien interjected: "Tho Finance Bill is an nttaek on workers' wages. Why not call it by its proper name?" The Prime Minister (sharply): "It is not an attack on workers' wages. It is a protection of them." The statement caused uproar in tho Labour benches, and above the din Mr. M'Combs shouted loudly: "Humbug! humbug!" Tho division on tho closuro motion was taken at 2.30, and resulted in it being carried by <JS votes to 21, Messrs. Black, Harris, and Hogan mipporting tho minority. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day.