SORRY FOR THEMSELVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1925, Page 5

SORRY FOR THEMSELVES

PARLIAMENTARIANS’ WAIL

TOO HARD-WORKED?

(Special to “Star.”)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 28.

Three-quarters of an hour was taken up ini the House this afternoon in Members protesting against the Government not giving sufficient information as to wnat classes of estimates were to be taken, and in d< ploring the late hours they had talked themselves into sitting. When the Customs class, the first of the day, was called on, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Forbes) rose to protest against the Opposition not having been informed as to what items were to be taken. The only notice they had had that Customs were to jcorne on, was when the. Chairman of Committees called the class from the chair. Memoirs were there to discuss business intelligently. He thought it was high time that some alteration was made in the method of procedure. It seemed to him that the Government was afraid to have criticism raised against the Estimates, as it knew the public was aware of the enormous increases in expenditure that had taken place. At this stage, the Minister of Health (Sir M. Pomare) entered into the discussion, and was responsible for a mild scene. “I cannot understand the lion, gentleman,” said Sir M. Pomare. ‘‘He was snivelling from the time he stood up until the time he sat down. I think I may christen him “Snivelling George.” , ’ Mr Masters: “There is nothing funny about that.’ ’ “You’re a full-blooded Maori,” remarked Mr Poland, “and a dirty one at that.”

An Hon. Member: You’re a dirty cur.”

“Apologise,” called out a number of Opposition Members to the Minister. The Chairman of Committees (Mr Young) said that if the Minister had said anything of a personal nature he must withdraw.

Alembers: And apologise too. Mr Poland said he did not think the withdrawal of words was at all sufficient. They had not been used in the heat of debate but deliberately and in cold blood.

Sir M. Pomare (to the Chairman): I think you have ruled. The Chairman : I have ruled that the words be withdrawn. Sir M. Pomare,: Which I did.

Asked by the Chairman to repeat what he had said, Sir M. Pomare complied. ' The Chairman : He must not only withdraw those words but express regret for having used them. The Standing Orders are very strict in this respect and lay it down that language of that kind is most disorderly. If we alow that sort of thing to go on we don’t know where we "will get to. Mr Witty: He can’t snivel again (Laughter). Sir M. Pomare: I will withdraw the words and apologise. The words were not used in an insulting manner. It was not perniciously said. It was said with a smile, which is usual with me, and I think anyone who knows the relationship existing between* the Hon. Member for Hurunui and myself would say, if asked for his opinion, that it was not meant offensively. It was not meant in the political sense. Sir M. Pomare, continuing, said it had been the immemorial custom of the House to take tho Estimates in the way proposed that afternoon. He could ever remember the time when Mr

Forbes had ever objected to the method before, even when he was on the Government Benches. The Estimates had been before the House for three weeks, and surely Members had had plenty of time to study the items, so as to be able to speak on any of them intelligently. Mr Veitch said that the protest of the Leader of the Opposition was dignified during the whole of the present week. The House had been driven very hard. He did not think Members had averaged live hours in bed on any night during the week. So far as the Opposition was concerned, there had been no attempt to retard the business of the. House unnecessarily. ’There had been criticism, but that was the Opposition’s function. On behalf 01. both sections of the Opposition, lie thought he could say that there had been no attempt to retard business, “this is a long-suffering Opposition,” remarked Mr Veitch, ‘‘and we don’t complain until we have strong ground for complaint.”

TALK ! TALK ! TALK ! “I think it is about time we got down to the Estimates,” said the Prime Minister. “I know that it is a long custom that the Leader of the Opposition must put up a protest. It is part of the tradition. It has to be done.’ Mr Forbes asked the Prime Minister if he thought it was reasonable that a system about which complaint was being made should be continued. “ I think it is a very dangerous tiling to knock down the pillars of the Constitution or custom,” replied the Prime Minister, amidst laughter. “While it is annoying to the Government th.it we should have time taken up in protests, we have to put up with it. 1 know the lion, gentleman has not been Leader of the Opposition very long, but I think he has got through the preliminaries and over the first few furlongs.in good style. I wish him luck.” (Laughter). Mr Coates read out a list of about ten classes, which lie thought could be passed at that sitting, and said he thought the Estimates could be disposed of in about two more days. “The Prime Minister is optimistic if he thinks he will get through that list to-day, and still more optimistic if he thinks he will finish next. Friday,” de-

clared the Leader ol uie naoour j uy (Mr Holland). He could understand why the business of the House could not be systematised so that it would be possible to forecast two or three days ahead what was going to come on The House had not adopted sane methods of procedure, and the long hours it sat wore a disgrace to it and the couiiliy. Mr Sullivan protested against the ridiculously long hours which the House was working at that stage of the session. A good deni of business luid been transacted without a quorum in

the early morning hours this week. He knew that was permissible so long as no one directed attention to it. The Chairman of Committees said he could not let that remark go. If attention were drawn to the absence of a quorum then business stopped. That had not occurred. “I accept your reproof,” replied Mr Sullivan, “but if you ask me to agree that the statement I have just made is incorrect, then I am not prepared to admit that.” He had not cast any reflection on the chair- It a record ueie made oi the number of hours w.-uked

after midnight this session it would be found to be, considerably in excess of the average. Mr Coates: Members have to uiank themselves for the lato hours. No one else. Talk! Talk! Talk!”

Mr Langstone: We are here to talk. “Exactly,” replied Mr Coates, “and they do talk when they come here.” Mr Langstone: We talk sense on these benches. Mr Coates : I think that all. the hon. Members can take a certain share of responsibility. It is not the work we have done; it is the talk we' have had.”

Shortly afterwards the discussion dropped.

BANDS’ UNIFORMS

A protest was made by several members when the Customs Department estimates were under, discussion against the remission of the duty on bandsmen’s uniforms, and a uniform for the officers on the cable steamer Iris. They stated that there was no need to remit the duty when such uniforms could be made in New Zealand. Mr Sullivan moved an amendment that the vote be reduced by £5 as an indication that there should be no refund of the duty on imported ' uniforms.

Hon. G. J. Apderson said that the Iris was owned jointly by the Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand Governments, and he could not say that the uniforms for her officers should not be imported. The Minister of Defence (Sir R. 11. Rhodes) stated that when material suitable for naval uniforms could be manufactured in New Zealand, the Government would be pleased to. order it locally instead aif getting uniforms of proper texture from England. The Prime Minister said that instructions had been given to see if band uniforms could be made in New Zealand. If they could, it would not be necessary to remit the duty in future. A

The amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 28.- 4 ■ 1 " ' *''