PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 162, 28 June 1930, Page 3

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES REFORM AMENDMENT TREATED AS ONE OF NO-CONFIDENCE. LABOUR’S STAND. Wellington, June 27. The appointment of a Chairman of Committees to replace tne Hon. S. G. Smith, who has entered the Cabinet, produced a lively display of party feeling in the House to-night, when Mr W, A, Bodkin (Otago Central), the official nominee, was opposed by Mr J. A. Macpherson (Oamaru), another Government member, proproposed from the Reform benches. The Prime Minister declared the issue one of no-confidence and found strong support on the Labour benches, the leader of that party describing the Reform motion as a party move not sufficiently important to justify turning out the Government. Mr Macpherson, when ho discovered that no confidence was involved, asked to withdraw, and a lively debate ended with Mr Bodkin’s unopposed selection. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), who rose from the Reform benches to propose Mr Macpherson for the office, said the House had a legitimate right to elect its own Chairman of Committees and its own Speaker. Mr Macpherson was a very old and experienced member and the deliberations of tho House under his chairmanship would result in complete impartiality and decorum. “I don’t know whether the amendment is moved on behalf of the Reform Party or not,” said the Prime Minister. “Tho appointment of officers of tho House is a matter for the Government, and unless the Government has control of the election of these offices it is to be taken as an indication that the Government dries not possess tho confidence of the House.” “I am amazed at the statement of the Prime Minister,” said Mr Coates. “I did not think he would take so narrow a view at this early stage of tho session. After all, the Prime Minister requires smooth working of the business of tho House and desires ,to get the business through. We have had experience of Mr Bodkin in tho chair, and this side of the House is not satisfied that he will give that judicial and impartial consideration of the claims of others who differ entirely from tho Government.” “I do not think tho question wnether the member for Oamaru or the member for Otago Central should be elected is a big enough question on which to send this Parliament to the country.” declared the Leader of the Labour Party. (Reform laughter).

Mr Holland, continuing, declared: “Just imagine this House taking the responsibility of precipitating a goner al election or, what would be worse, putting the Reform Party on the Treasury benches over the question whether one man or another should be Chairman of Committees]” (Refortn laughter). WHICH WOULD BE THE WORST? Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central). Which would be the worst? Mr Holland: It may bo that neither one of them will have better qualifications than the other, but it is quite clear that the move is a party drove. Mr Coates: Nonsense. Mr Holland remarked that he Lad read the right hon. gentleman’s speeches about working in harmony with the Government because of tho stress of economic conditions. Now Mr Coates was showing his goodwill by endeavouring to win a member from the Government benches. Mr'Coates: That’s mischievous. Mr Holland: Everything is mischiev ous that catches the right hon. gentle man tripping. Mr Holland ridiculed the issue as one for displacing the Government, de claring that when the House had to make the great change let it do so on some fundamental principle. Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) stated that members had had a bitter experi ence of Mr Bodkin in the chair and they would resent his appointment “1 think the country will be pretty sick of the antics both of tho Government and the Reform party,” remark cd Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon), who described the episode as purely a small party move, contrasting vididly with Reform’s patriotic declaration to do its best to carry on the Government under difficult conditions. He could not understand the Prime Minisrer making it a no confidence issue when both nominees were members of his own party. He thought the electors would declare “a plage on both your houses. It is time tho Labour party took charge.” (Laughter). Mr Coates: They have charge now. (Renewed laughter.) The Hon. Atmore (Minister of Education) asked if the member for Otago Central was to be denied an honourable position because ho had been a vigorous fighter. He had shown conspicuous ability and made a fighting speech last session, for which Reform would like to penalise him. “I would like to ask the member for Oamaru,” concluded Mr Atmore, “to say he has not been a party to this, but if ho is that he will not embarras the party which lie has so loyally served for years.” MR MACPHERSON WITHDRAWS. A semi-humorous appeal to Mr Mae pherson was also made by Mr Fraser, who genially remarked: “I don’t know whether ho is a consenting party; be has been looking very in nocent throughout the discussion —almost too innocent.” (Laughter). “The sands of time are running out; he will have to make up his mind whether he will remain in allegiance to his party or whether he is going to walk out. It is inevitably a no confidence motion.” Ultimately Mr Macpherson defined his position. He had neither taken an active part in the nomination nor expressed a desire to be nominated. A

large number of members from more than one side of the House had approached him and other'members had told him tKab they were consenting to nomination. He had understood in good faith that there was to be more than one nomination. He asked the Prime Minister for an assurance that he had definitely decided to make the motion one of no confidence. Mr Forbes reiterated his earlier statement that he had decided in that direction, adding: “If the Government is not able to carry its nominations in the House I no longer wish to remain in the position I am in.” Mr R. Semple (Wellington East): Why don’t you discipline your party and save the country expense? Mr Macpherson said he had no desire to embarras tho country or the Government and ho would withdraw from nomination. The motion to appoint M Bodkin was then adopted without a division. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS SEVERAL INTRODUCED. Wellington, June 27. The following bills were introduced and read the first time in the Houseof Representatives this afternoon:— Masterton Trust Lands Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason), Waiapu County Council Empowering Bill (Mr W. S. Williams), Coroners Amendment Bill (Mr C. E. Macmillian), New Zealand Institute of Architects Amendment Bill (Mr R. A. Wright), Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason), Magistrate’s Courts Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason), City of Christchurch Sinking Fund Commissioners’ Empowering Bill (Mr D. G. Sullivan). In asking leave to introduce the Rating Amendment Bill. Mr Mason said it was desired to eliminate the section of the Act which provided that after a poll is taken in a district a valution roll should be prepared and sent to the local body. He contended that the inclusion of this section was now quite unnecessary, as the point, was fully coveted by other legislation. introducing the Coroners Amendment Bill, Air Macmillan said it was designed to give an opportunity for adopting legislation embodying the rc commendation of the Public Petitions Committee on the subject. Mr Mason in introducing the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, said it sought to empower local bodies to' use tho “ X ” system for voting if they wished to do so. He did not think there would ever be unanimity on the desirability of any one system, but he asked that local bodies should' bo given the option of using tho “X” system.