TALK OF SLEEP

Evening Star, Issue 19952, 23 August 1928, Page 10

TALK OF SLEEP

REFORM MEMBERS HURT HOT WORDS IN HOUSE MANY HOURS WASTED. [From Our: Parliamentary Bepoktcb.] WELLINGTON, August 22. There was indignation in tlio Reform camp >u the House when Mr Leo (Auckland East) said the members of the Opposition were accustomed to speaking to an accompaniment of loud Reform snores. Indeed, said Mr Lee, if that accompaniment of snores was to cease, it might seem to them that the Reform Party was extinct. “Reform mcmhqrs,” he added, “ find it just as easy to sleep on their benches as they do in their beds, so that it is easy for them to come back fresh next morning for committee work.” Mr Leo said it was grossly unfair to blame Labour for prolonging the debates. Ho read from lists compiled from ‘Hansard’ to show that on occasions there were strings of sneakers, not one of whom was a Labour member. It was like a pot of boiled rice, without a single raisin. Mr Harris (Waitemata) objected to this speech, whereat Mr Potter interjected; “Oh! the member for Auckland East talks in his sleep.” Mr Harris said Reform members did not neglect their duty. Mr Armstrong (Christchurch East) wondered why .Parliament,.the most important business in the country, could not bo run on business-like lines. Mr Lysnar (Gisborne): How would you run it?

Mr Armstrong: If I couldn’t rum it better than you I’d go and die. Mr Fraser (Wellington Central) said it was all very well for the member for Waitemata to become righteously indignant about Mr Lees’s remarks, but what was said was true enough. Reformers did go to sleep. Mr Fraser did not know whether the member for Waitemata over went to sleep in the House, but there were occasions when Mr Harris might as well bo asleep. (Laughter.) Dir Harris rose again to deplore the attitude adopted by the Labour members in their references to sleeping mem bers.

Dir Lee; They neglect their duty all right. Dir Harris said members had become radians ted from time to time owing to protracted sittings, but they did not ncdoct their work.

Air Lee; 1 say that a Tory asleep is a less calamity than a Tory awake. Mr M‘Combs said there had been many occasions when important legislation" had gone through while Reform members slept on their benches. Reform cries: What about yourself? Mr ‘Combs; The Labour members are so few in number that they cannot go to sleep. It is rarely indeed that Opnositirfh members are seen asleep. Mr M'Combs remembered an occasion when it was suggested, on a late sitting, that the lights be lowered, so that the Reform members might sleep, and in the bigness of their hearts the Labour members lowered the ton© of their voices. Ho recalled, too, that on another occasion ho had risen to speak for tho committee limit of ten minutes; but the chairman, nodding to sleep in tho armchair, had allowed him to proceed for seventeen minutes. Mr Hockly (Chairman of Committees): Order! The hon. member will resume his scat. He must not bring the name of the chairman into the debate in any way. (Laughter.) The Hou. A. D. M'Leod said it would be more enjoyable for Reform members lo sleep every time tho member for Auckland East rose to speak. Air Leo: Ah! I keep you awake. Air M'Leod: There is not a ray of intelligence in what the hon. member says in debates-

The Leader_ of the Opposition; Arc you complaining that he keeps you awake? Air M'Leod: Wc have heard of tinkling cymbals and sounding brass, but he is sounding tin. Mr Howard (Christchurch South) said the Minister of Lands would not say such things in his more gentlemanly moments. There had been occasions when the Minister bad congratulated the member for Auckland East. Air Glenn ißangitikei) said the Labour “ dope ” was often so good that it was like chloroform, and sent Reform members to sleep. AIM LEE TROUNCES THE MINISTER.

At the first opportunity Air Leo jumped to hit. leer, and launched a re tiiliatory attack on the Minister of Lauds ’‘The Minister generally docs go to sleep,” said Air Leo, “ but not this lime. During the last few days I’ve been told by ten or eleven Reform members that I have been indulging in discreditable attacks; on Reform, and now the Minister of Lands pays me the compliment of saying that 1 keep Reform members awake. The Alinister is like Rip A',-in Winkle, who went to sleep for a- lifetime, and was not missed. If Reform went to sleep for a, political lifetime they would not lie missed by the country. -However, as lung as they are here I shall keep them awake Anyhow, iho Alinister of Lands is the dullest, dreariest, stodgiest, most sterile, and unimaginative Alinister in the Reform Cabinet. Despite the tremendous wall of stodge he puts up, I am proud of the tribute he pays me when he says 1 keep this sleepy Government awake. Mr APKccn (Wellington South), in his vigorous condemnation of long hours, referred to the fact that the messengers were not paid extra. In excess of enthusiasm he called them “ poor devils,” hut nad to withdraw this unparliamentary expression. Air Glenn (Rangitikci) objected to Air APKeen misrepresenting the position. “ Stick to facts. I ask him not to stato facts which are contrary.” (Loud laughter.)

Air Forbes wondered why anyone was perturbed over being accused of sleeping in Parliament, It was a sign of an untroubled conscience. “Hear, hear.”)

Telegraph rates are too high to send more of such nonsense, but the night in Parliament was as entertaining as a vaudeville show'.