A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 15

A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE

TWO LABOUR MEMBERS

The action of a collcaguo in temporarily diverting Ministerial attention while ho was addressing the Chair was sharply criticised by Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) in the House of Representatives yesterday. . Mr. Parry was 'urging the Government to adopt Mr. J.A. Lee's Hire of Films Bill, and while he was, sneaking a quiet conversation was in progress between Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) and the Prime Minister (the;Bt. Hon. G. W. Forbes'); the Minister of Finance1 (the Et. Hon. J* G. Coates), and Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Government, Central Otago). Pointed notice.to'this circumstance was drawn by. Mr. Parry, who said that members rshould bpsufnciently interested >in such an important quostion as that before the, House to ensure that the points being made' by the member speaking were grasped; by members of the Ministry..'lt was;not fair that other members should be claiming Ministerial attention on gueb an occasion. Members, he declared, should not be so ignorant of the rights of other members as to act in such "a manner. , •' s • - >• 1 Mr. Speaker requested the withdrawal of the word "ignorant." \ Complying with the direction, ' Mr. Parry substituted the word "inconsiderate," and repeated his protest. ;■. ._ On returning to his seat Mr. Sullivan rose to a point of'order, and ?aid it was clear from Mr. Parry's references that he was the member criticised. He explained that he had just been placed in possession of important information concerning the City of ■ Ghristohurch, which he had at once to convey to the Prime Minister. N In the circumstances Mr. Parry should not have spoken a* he did. As a matter of fact there had been occasions during his speeches when' members, including Mr. Parry, had carried on conversations with Ministers. '/Not me," exclaimed Mr. Parry.. Mr. Coates: Now, don't fall put. Mr. Sullivan said he considered his colleague owed him an apology. His brief conversation with the Prime Minister had concerned a ■ subject ■of great interest to tho City of Christchurch and to the people of Canterbury. " Christchurch comes .' before ' the country," commented Mr. Coates,'.who throughout Mr. Parry'a speech had been engaged in conversation with Mr^ Bodkin.

lii 1932 614,320 births and 484,083 deaths ■were registered in England end Wales. The population, therefore, increased; by .130,237, compared with an average over five years of 162,891. The number of persons married during the year was 612,264.