END OF THE SESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 58, 10 March 1933, Page 8

END OF THE SESSION

MEMBERS PROTEST

A "PIN-PRICKING" BILL

An. emphatic protest against "the manner in which the Government had treated the House over the x Poultry Amendment Bill was made in the House of Representatives last night by Mr. M. J. Savage (Deputy-Leader of the Labour Party), who alleged that the measure had been proceeded with in contravention of an arrangement for the closing of the session made with the Opposition. Mr. Savage said that from beginning to end the Government's method of handling, the Bill had been characterised by vacillation and hestitation. For some months the measure had been in the hands of the A. and P. Committee of the House, and it had been before the House itself for a period. At midnight on Wednesday, definite arrangements were made with the Prime Minister for carrying out a specific programme on the understanding that members could make arrangements to leave for their constituencies on Thursday. Those arrangements were made by a large number of members, yet at the eleventh hour the Government decided to proceed with a measure that was highly contentious. It made one wonder what value could be placed on the promises made by the Government. The Government did not appear to know for five minutes at a time what it was going to do next. "Members seem to have no rights at all—no body or soul to be protected," complained Mr. Savage. "If only they knew what they were to do they would face up to it cheerfully, but these methods of transacting business cannot make anybody feel cheerful." CABINET'S POSITION. Mr. Savage questioned whether Cabinet seriously intended to pass the Bill. In his estimation there was a majority in the House who wanted legislation in some useful form, if not in the terms of the present Bill, and it was not too much to ask the Government to lay down a definite policy in that regard. Some-members, however, had been misled into the belief that the Bill was not to come forward again. He did not blame the Minister in charge (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan), who had shown a desire throughout to secure, the passage of the measure, but there appeared to be some difficulty over bringing Ministerial views into line. (Government laughter). ' ■ "On a fishing expedition?" queried the Prime Minister. "No," retorted Mr. Savage, "but I appear to have caught a bite." (Laughter). PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW. The implied suggestion that there were Ministerial differences over the measure was heightened by a question asked by the next speaker, Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, (Government, Riccarton), the chairman of the A. and P. Committee. "Has the Prime Minister set his personal seal on the Bill?" Mr. Kyle asked. Mr. Forbes did not Teply. "I suppose silence gives a negative answer," was Mr. Kyle's comment. "The House has not been treated fairly over this Bill," declared Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn), who said the Prime Minister had definitely arranged for the conclusion of the business of the session after the passage of a stated list of measures, i Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent, Eden) declared/that it was a disastrous state of affairs when so much vacillation existed that the peoplo did not know whether they could rely on the word of tho head of the Government. Mr. Lee: Sanctity of contract! MORALE OP COUNTRY. Mr. Stallworthy: It has a very unsettling influence on the morale of the House and the country. It' is unfortunate that such a Bill should come up for consideration when the mental and physical condition of members resembles that of a poultry yard in a moulting condition. "Speak for yourself," interjected the Minister of Finance (Mr. Coates). "This is pin-pricking legislation, and we have had nothing else but pinpricking legislation this session," said Mr. R. A. Wright (Government, Wellington Suburbs). ' "We have pinpricked one section of the community after another, but I suppose there is still a section left to pin-prick next session. "How. can a man tell how old his hens are? He will have to put their ages down in a book, and he will have to brand his chickens when they are hatched. It is pin-pricking legislation like this that is causing the trouble."