MEMBERS PAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1928, Page 1

MEMBERS PAIRS

ON LICENSING RILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLIN'OTON, September 27. The correctness of the statement that has been issued by Mr J. S. Dickson, the Senior Government Whip, concerning the Licensing Rill pairs is disputed by Mr D. J. Sullivan, the Labour Party Whip. Mr Dickson’s statement was that .Mr Jordan, M.P. for Manakau, had “intimated that lie did not desire to pair on the Licensing Rill.” Mr Sullivan says this could not possibly be correct. Before -Mr Jordan left for Canada, (to attend the Empire Parliamentary Congress), lie interviewed almost every members opposed to his views, and asked them to pair with him on the Bill. In every case he was refused, but, subsequently, intimated to me that he had arranged to pair with Mr Rhodes, M.P/ for Thames, who also was going to Canada. Mr Jordan’s written statement to me is as follows: “I have paired with. Mi Rhodes. I vote: Bible in Schools—No; bare majority—yes ; daylight savingyes. (Signed) Jordan.” Mr Sullivan says'that the day aftei the defeat of the Licensing Bill. Mr Dickson produced to him a statement by Mr Jordan covering the Rible-in-Schools, Daylight Saving, and Government measures; but with no reference to the Licensing Bill ; but. that, meant nothing as Mr Jordan had already done the proper thing in instructing his own Party Whip how to pair him on that measure. “To put the matter beyond all doubt,” says Mr Sullivan. “ I sent a cable to Mr Jordan and. Mr Rhodes in Canada, and their reply is now in the hands of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It was: “Agree to pair respectively for against hare majority. fSigned) Jordan, Rhodes. .Mr Sullivan concluded by saying that the evidence was complete that Mr Jordan and Mr Rhodes bad arranged to pair on Clause- Four ol the ■Licensing Bill.