SHARP EXCHANGE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 2 March 1935, Page 8

SHARP EXCHANGE

UNPLEASANTRIES IN HOUSE POLITICAL PATRONAGE ALLEGED REFLECTIONS RESENTED.

A sharp exchange of unpleasantries occurred in the House of Representatives yesterday between the Mimstei of Education, Hon. S. G. Smith, and Mr..A. M. Samuel (Ind., Thames). The House' was discussing a section of the Mortgage Corporation Bill, which .empowers the Minister of Finance to guarantee the corporation against Joss oh any loan advanced on land in excess of two-thirds the value of the security.. Several members, including Mr R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) and Mr. W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central), expressed the view that any Minister of Finance might be tempted to discriminate in favour of men of bis own political leanings, although each made it clear that no charge was being made against tlie present Minister. The Minister of Defence, Hon. J. C. Opbbe,. took strong objection to this opinion. He said that although he had not been in politics as long as Mr. Wright he was quite sure that politics in tins' country were clean. He had never seen anything done by a Minister which could bo regarded as unfair to any political group. He thought it was not right that members should be allowed to say such things in the house.

; ‘READ TOO MUCH.” Mr. Samuel' considered that the Minister had read too much into the words of Mr. Wright and Mr. Parry, and that lie was making too much of a song aboiit the matter. There had been no necesstiy to bring it up at all as Mr. Wright had made no charges. There was a rumour, howover'" even about the Minister of Education, which was without foundation. Mr. Smith : Name one •_ Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Govt., vvaitomoj who was in the chair in the temporary absence of the chairman o committees (Mr. J. A. Nash) : Order. Mr. Samuel: The Minister can get up afterwards. Mr. Smith: I don’t want to. Mr Samuel said that Mr. A\ right had referred to the preferential treatment meted out by members of the mortgagors’ . adjustment commossions. Mr. Samuel lidded that he made no charges, but that men o decided political leanings had been appointed to the commissions. There was an argument in favour of that, as no Government was going to appoint its enemies to do its work for. it.

MINISTER’S COMMENT. At this stage Mr. Smith rose in his seat and expressed his objections to wliat Mr. Samuel had said. ‘‘l have not spoken in the debate to-day,” he said, “so it appears that the member for Thames must have some special reason for attacking me. He should tell, the House if he knows anything against the Minister. ■ Mr. Samuel: I shall be glad to explain myself. Mr. Smith: The lion, gentleman is becoming the master of innuendo in t]iis House. The chairman of committees: 1 am not going to allow this discussion to go- on. lam only sorry that it began in my absence. , Mr. Smith :T The hon. member s antipathy to myself is known very well, hut I Know that any rumour that, comes from him carries no weight. Mr. Samuel (rising in his seat) : Mr chairman. - • • The chairman: I cannot allow tins to go- on. Mr. Samuel: Then I submit, sir, that your attitude is quite unfair. The chairman: 1 will not allow an argument of this kind. Mr. Samuel: lam entitled to reply, not to innuendoes, but to direct charges.

DUTY OF THE CHAIR). The chairman: The- Minister made no charges, but merely a statement Mr. Samuel: You can do what you like with me, Mr. Chairman, but 1 must say that the place of the chair is to safeguard every member of this House.

The chairman: You must not reflect on the chair. Mr. Samuel: Well, I am prepared to do whatever you like. Later in the debate, Mr. W. A. Ycitch (Ind., Wanganui) referred to the “political patronage’’ involved in tliis section of the Rill, but the chairman refused to allow him to go on while using “such language.” Mr. Veitch retorted that it was the privilege of members to address the House without interruption, even from the chair, until they had violated the standing orders. The. chairman said it was the duty of the chair to see that members discussed the clause under consideration and that they kept from extraneous subjects. This Yuling he asked Mr. Yeiteh to accept, and the incident was closed.