AN OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 23 October 1930, Page 4

AN OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT

MR. LYSNAR DESERTS REFORM

WANTS* TO REPRESENT NO PARTY.

(By Teiegraph—Special to “The Star. ) WELLINGTON, Oct. 22. “i want to dissociate myseil irom the Reform Party and be treated as an independent, representing no party at ail.’ This announcement was made at the opening of to-day’s sitting of the House by Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gis- ■ borne). “Quite right, too. Unanimously agreed to,’’ remarked the Leader of toe Opposition (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates). 'The formal statement was probably prompted by a difficulty experienced by Mr Lysnar on the previous evening, when he was anxious to promptly reply to thei Leader of Opposition on the question of railway construction, but owing to the method of calling on a speaker from each party in turn did not get his opportunity until a few minutes before midnight, when only three minutes remained to him to make his point. Mr Speaker remarked that he assumed the announcement by the member did not involve any criticism of the chair. *'■" V' ’V":" “

“No; none whatever,” assured Mr Lysnar.

Sir Clias. Statham explained to the House that the practice followed, with the concurrence of members, ba(l been to call upon a. speaker from each party in turn. However, if the House desired him to call on the first member who caught the Speaker’s eye he would follow such a direction. In its absence he would continue to call on a member from each party in turn. “I may say,”, added Sir Charles, that the independents of the House are always more or less of a problem, and the lion, member may find that now be has become an official Independent he might not get the same opportunity as before (laughter).