RED TAPE

Evening Star, Issue 16911, 7 December 1918, Page 2

RED TAPE

“ FIGHT LIKE THE DEVIL.” ["From Our Parliamentary REPom.ua.] WELLINGTON, December 6. A little diversion was caused in the House to-night by Dr Thacker, is always liable to spring surprises. The member was talking in impassioned tones about the difficulty in piercing departmental red tape, his remark having especial reference to Hie Defence Department. Speaking on the Repatriation Bill, the hon. member declared: “Our soldiers will make a breach in the red tap department. Every' member of this House,” ho added with rising inflection of voice, ‘‘has to fight like the devil to get through this red tape.” The Chairman of Committees immediately pulled him up, expressing the opinion that the words should not bo used in reference to members, as they were unparliamentary.

Dr Thacker maintained that the words were Scriptural words, and as such were quite proper and in order. Mr Malcolm still objected, whereupon Dr Thacker moved that Mr Speaker’s ruling be taken on the matter. When Speaker Lang appeared there whs really no specific charge against Dr Thacker, since Mr Malcolm had not decided to report him to the Speaker, After merry explanations and opinions, Dr Thacker said if the Speaker ruled that the words were unparliamentary he would withdraw them.

Sir P. W. Lang said it all depended on the manner in which the worcls_ were spoken, but the member was wrong in persisting in continuing his speech after tho Chairman had objected to certain words. The Prime Minister observed that the usual course had been reversed. dhe Chairman had been reported to the Speaxor by the member for Christchurch fiast. 'The incident closed pleasantly, Dr Thacker saving that members of Parliament had to fight like Jack Johnson to get through red tape. (Laughter.)