Speaker's Snub To Governor Causes Scene

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23218, 1 April 1950, Page 5

Speaker's Snub To Governor Causes Scene

CANBERRA, March 31. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. A. G. Cameron, bluntly declared yesterday that he could not accept the hospitality of the GovernorGeneral, Mr. W. J. McKell, and could only treat him with strict formality. His explanation that this was because of-attacks on him in the past by Mr. McKell provoked one of the angriest scenes in the House for many years as Labour M.P.’s rose in protest. Mr. Cameron was answering a question by Mr. A. D. Fraser (Labour) who directed his attention to an article in a Sydney newspaper concerning the Speaker’s conduct at Government House when presenting the Address-in-Reply. Mr. Cameron said he had discussed the article with its author, who had been his publicity officer for some months when he led the Federal Country Party in 1940, at which time the New South Wales Labour Party ■was led by Mr. McKell. “In March, 1940, Mr. McKell made an attack on me at the Labour Party Easter conference,” said Mr. Cameron. “In June, 1940, he made upon me the most personal attack I have ever been subjected to in my life. Each was a prepared statement, and the more offensive one was, I believe, broadcast as well.” Invitation Declined He read comments which he said were samples of personal abuse contained in Mr. McNeil's statements. ‘‘On assuming the Speakership.” he said, "I took a calculated risk. I met the Governor-General for the second time in my life, and I trust my conduct on that day was no disgrace to the House. "On February 27. in reply to an invitation, called the Governor-General's attention to his past attitude toward me, and informed him that I had no desire to accept the hospitality of those who spoke of me in the terms employed by him. To that letter I have received 'neither acknowledgment nor reply. “If the Governor-General holds the views he publicly expressed concerning myself, he should have informed the House of the fact and asked it to choose another Speaker. If he does not hold these views, a well-known remedy is open to him. His failure to acknowledge my letter leads me to believe he still holds those views. Strict Formality “If that assumption is correct, he could hardly expect me to accept hospitality I had already refused, and I for my part could do no other, than I did on March 22—treat His Excellency with strict formality and respect due to his high office and remove myself from his presence as soon as my duties had been discharged." Member after member rose from the Labour benches and declared that the, Speaker had committed a gross breach of standing orders by referring in such terms in the House to the Governor-General. Many pointed out that last week Mr. Cameron had ruled that no member in the House_ could cither praise or blame the King s representative. That ruling was given during a foreign affairs debate to Mr. W. M. Bourko (Labour). Mr. Cameron insisted that he bad made no attack on the GovernorGeneral and had committed no breach of standing orders. A motion of dissent from this ruling was moved by Mr. J. P. Burke (Labour) and after an hour of angry debate the Prune Minister, Mr. Menzies, moved that the question be put. The Speaker’s ruling was upheld, voting being on strict party lines.