SILENT MINISTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 222, 6 September 1929, Page 5

SILENT MINISTERS

WHERE ARE THE TEAM? MR COATES’S COMMENT. Wellington, September 6, The marked silence of Ministers in regard to the many requests made by members during consideration of the Estimates was commented on by the Leader of the Opposition (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) m the House of Representatives last night. Earlier the Prime Minister (Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) had made a request that tile first item of the Estimates ba passed before the House rose, as full advantage had been taken of the opportunity for discussion. In that he had been supported by the Leader ■of tho Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland). Without wishing to hold proceedings up, Mr Coates said it was a matter for surprise that Ministers had not replied to the many speakers. Only two Ministers had spoken. “In all my experience I have never encountered such an absence of replies by Ministers,” said Mr Coates. The Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes): How can you. with the Standing Orders as they are? Mr Coates: They should not prevent a member from having a reply fr a Minister. Mr Forbes: You can’t do it when ten members get up at once. Mr Coates: They have the same right to speak as Ministers have. Had Ministers replied, the first item would have gone through long ago. The Prime Minister said that while Mr Coates was out of the Chamber he had replied for . four different Ministers to tho points raised. Mr Coates: But we want to hear some of your team. The Prime Minister: Two of the Ministers have spoken. lam only trying to hdp the now Standing Orders. I 'Ion"! mind an adjournment. The item Wes passed. The Prime Minister i'llimnted that the House Ijday would have an opportunity t,{ discussing the departmental reports already tabled.