WANTS TO GET AWAY!

Grey River Argus, 9 December 1918, Page 4

WANTS TO GET AWAY!

MR MASSEY OBJECTS TO DELAY

WELLINGTON, December 7,

A vigorous protest against what he considered the undue prolongation of the debate was made by Mr Massey when members continued to urge that there should he bne Minister of Repatriation: "I had assumed," said Mr Massey, "that members generally were anxious that New Zealand should be represented at the Peace Conference. I hope this is not organised opposition." Voices : N6.-

Mr Massey: "It appears so to I me. and if New Zealand is not represented at Sbe Peace Conference, it will be the fault of the House. lam not going to leave the country unti. tliese questions fire settled." Mr Massey said he did not suggest that there should be no debate, but some members were unreasonable. A great deal had been said about the Board to control repatriation. If members were not satisfied with the proposal, let them knock out the clause and have done with it. Mr Vigor Brown: 1 suppose we can express opinions. : Mr Massey: "Yes, but there is no need to take twenty-four hours to do it" He declared that a great^deal of nonsense had been talke3 about divided control. The demand of those who insisted that there ought to be one Minister responsible, did not constitute objection to the Board proposal. The chairman of the Board would be responsible for the conduct of tEe Board. Personally, he could see nothing wrong with the scheme, but the House need not waste time about it. Let the Board be wiped out and some other scheme devised. Members spoke as if they thought the Government was not prepareu to do justice to the soldiers. He would ask them to consider what had been done already. ■ ' , , , ... ■Mr Brown: We want to do better. Mr Massey (making a gesture of impatience) : The plain truth is .that ever since the war commenced, there have been memberi who have tried on every possible opportunity to prevent us from doing our duty as a Government in connection with the war, not only in Parliament, hut out of ft. Mr Brown: What do members come here for? Mr Massey: Not to embarras the Government, and the men who have adversely criticised the Government on every possible occasion, are the men who have done least to help the country to do its share in the war. 1 don't want to name them, but it may be necessary some day. Mr Massey: The honourable member's constituents will juftge him." Referring to the matter or allowances, Mr Massey said the Minister of Defence had given a pledge that the question of retrospects payment would be referred to Cabinet, No more could be said until Cabinet had considered the question. The members of the Government were as anxious to be generous to the soldiers as the rest of the people of New Zealand. ; ._,'■__ Mr Parr: Reasonable men admit that. Mr Massey said in addition to a desire to he generous, the Government had to exercise responsibility, and had sometimes to refuse demands, or to put the brake on expensive schemes. ! He asked members to be reasonable. j If the Government did not do as they I wished, the remedy was with 'the members, but he could give, his assurance that in. dealing with the soldiers, the Government would not follow a policy of cheese-paring. Mr Massey then moved to report T>rogress on the Bill, which was agreed . to.