ATMORE-SAMUEL INCIDENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1929, Page 3

ATMORE-SAMUEL INCIDENT.

REFERRED TO SELECT COMMIT- , TEE. , OVER ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILEGE W ELLINGTON, Last Night, ihe adjourned debate on the question of the alleged breach of privilege in a remark made by Hon. H. Atmore to Mr Samuel, concerning Egypt, was resurped to-day. Mr Kyle stated Mr Samuel had been mentioned in despatches for gallantry and had been awarded no fewer than seven medals. He had won the good feelings of all (he men who had served undoi his command from the beginning to the end of the wav. Mir Kyle suggested (hat Mr Atmore should unreservedly withdraav the remark.

Mr Ansell suggested the .Minister would lose nothing in dignity -by making ;ni apology at the j> resent

stage. Mr Llinkanl expressed the view that there had been an insuilicienf. reason lor bringing the matter before tht. House. Mr O’Brien concurred in this view and suggested that the motion should be thrown out in such a way that there would be no encouragement for any other member to bring a “similar trifling matter’’ before the House. Mr McDonald contended the Minister’s actual words could not contain any sinister meaning. Ho was sure there had been no intention to cast a reflection on the military record of Mr Sa nmol. Mr .Sullivan said as ; it had been slated the remark was only a jocular one Air Samuel should not pursue the matter any further. The country wa.s most impatient and objected to the time wasted on the discussion of this matter. He invited Air Samuel to withdraw his motion. All 1 Samuel said he thought the matter had been given a slightly different colouring (his afternoon. Had Mr Atmore no I continued his remarks beyond a certain stage on Friday he (Air Samuel) would nor have permitted the imitter to go any further. The Aliuister, however, had aggravated the affair by innuendo. Instead of making the amende honourable he had gone on further and indulged in sini.-Ce-r suggestion. Mr S-: i; 111 . - i added that lie d;U not, care whel.he-; the whole House voted against him. He wanted the matter cleared up. The matter might seem trivial to Hie’ House and lHe country. It was not trivial to him. The country did not know what he had had to pat up with but it could guess. xMr Atmore said he had assured Air Samuel the remark was jocular. Ho wax not the aggressor in this case. When the House resumed at 7.30 tonight the Prime Minister suggested

that; if Air Sa.mu-1 wore agreeable to withdraw his breach of privilege motion lie (.Sir Joseph Ward) would then move that the matter bo referred (o a select committee. .Mr Coates; The Prime Minister's •suggestion is the correct one. but there

would be no need to refer the matter to a committee if the Minister of Education will simply say he meant nothing by the remark. Mr Atmore did not reply. Mr Samuel thereupon agreed to withdraw his motion and Sir Joseph Ward moved that the question bo referred to a committee of privilege to consist of the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Labour party, Hoa. G. Forbes, Mr. K. S. Williams and Mi O 'Brien to report in throe weeks. Mr Coates: “I ask the Minister of Education across the floor of the House whether he is prepared to say he meant nothing by the remark. A Labour member: “Hear, hear. That's the right way to settle it. Mr Atmore did not reply and Sir Joseph Ward's'motion was then unanimously adopted.