PARTY LOYALTY

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 7

PARTY LOYALTY

A MEMBER'S ANALYSIS TENSE MOMENT IN HOUSE [From Ocr Parliamentary Repoktke.] WELLINGTON, August 25.. Tliore was a rather tense moment in the House to-night when Mr Rushworth (Independent member for the Bay of Islands) took the opportunity or defending a-feiiow Independent, He remarked that the previous speaker (Mr Clinkard) had taken Mr Fletcher (Grey Lynn) to task for not being loyal to his party, while he had held himself up as a model of loyalty. “ How would the member for Rotorua like it,” added Mr Hush worth, if, 1 asked him if he had his price.” Mr Clinkard: A very improper suggestion. Mr Rushworth: “ Yes, a very proper suggestion.” He added that Mr Clinkard was keenly interested in the subject of timber. , “In what way, asked Mr Clinkard. Mr Rushworth: It would not be unreasonable for one to suggest to the member for Rotorua that he had consideration for his loyalty. . “Is that allowed?” demanded Mr Clinkard. , . • ' , ... Mr Speaker invited Mr Rushworth to explain what he meant. Mr Rushworth: 1 was suggesting that the member for Rotorua was able to persuade the Government to put additional protection on timber and its substitutes. Mr Speaker: Are you referring to the member’s own private business ? , . Dir Rushworth: 1 do know he is keenly interested in timber. He has been an advocate of it ever since 1 have known him. Mr Fraser (Wellington Central): do have many other members. Mr Rushworth: The member for Rotorua has been able to get the duties on timber considerably increased. My suggestion is that, if the - member foi Grey Lynn had been able to get the Government to assist his pet hobby to the same satisfactory extent, he might have been just as loyal as the member for. Rotorua. . . , , Mr Speaker inquired whether Mr Rushworth was suggesting that Mr Clinkard was likely to make any private gain. Mr Rushworth; No, that was not in my mind at all. 1 want to make it quite clear that there was no idea m my mind of suggesting that Mr Clinkard had any private business interests in timber or anything of that sort, or that he made any private deal. I was referring only to his political dealnigs, Tho incident then dropped.