AUSTRALIAN TRADE UNION SECRETARY’S VISIT RAISED-IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 26138, 27 June 1947, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN TRADE UNION SECRETARY’S VISIT RAISED-IN PARLIAMENT

(Special.) WELLINGTON, June 27. ■A question in the House of Representatives, which met with a lively reception, was put to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, by Mr A. J. Murdoch (N. Marsden). ‘‘ls it the Government’s intention this session,” he asked “ to introduce legislation prohibiting the entry into this country of Australian or other agitators or other undesirable persons intent on the disruption of New Zealand’s domestic affairs? ” In a note to the question, .Mr Murdoch stated that the recent arrival of an Australian named Elliott, whose actions and utterances earned a wellmerited rebuke from the Minister of Works, was responsible for:—(1) A dereliction of duty oh the part of Wellington Harbour Board employees; (2) a wastage and heavy financial loss to .shipowners and contractors; (3) delay and interference with power schemes. Mr Murdoch was interrupted by a point of order raised by Mr C. Carr (Govt., Timaru), who called attention to debatable matter in the question, this being contrary to Standing Orders. “ There is only another sentence,” explained the member for Marsden, but he was not allowed to read it, Mr Speaker ruling that the question would have to be revised so as to exclude debatable matter.