CLAUSE RULED OUT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 181, 1 July 1938, Page 8

CLAUSE RULED OUT.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. INCIDENT IN HOUSE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, July 1. • The ruling out by Mr Speaker of a clausei n the Opposition no-confidence motion moved 'by Hon. A. Hamilton in the House of Representatives today was a somewhat dramatic development of the Address-in-Reply debate. The offending clause suggested as one of the reasons why the House had no confidence in the “that the Dominion is no longer governed by the elected representatives of the people ip accordance with traditional British democracy, but by a party dictated-to by an Easter conference, and by the professional unionists of the Trades Hall.” Mr Hamilton’s motion contained eight clauses, prompting Hon. R. Fraser to ask if it was another Ad-dress-ih-Reply. ‘ However, the interrupting Minister secured an extension of speaking time lor the Opposition Leader,' who proceeds.! seratim to develop his argument for each clause. He had reached clause 5 when Mr Speaker intervened, declaring he was obliged to rule it out. “It alleges,” he said, “that the Government takes its orders from a body of persons outside this House. That is an insinuation which should not lie made, and I am bound to disallow this reference in the amendment, also any references which may following in the debate directly in support of that portion.” Mr Barnard added that he was not desirous of preventing a discussion, but any imputation that the .country was not governed by H'is Majesty’s Government, but by persons outside, was not in accordance with established custom. Rt. Hpn. G. W. Forbes: Do you sav it is not in order to say that the Government is influenced by outside organisations P When I was on the other side, the present Government party charged us with being influenced by wealthy supporters. Is not the same liberty extended in regard to the present Government P Mr Speaker replied that he agreed. There- was no intention on his part to limit te debate in any such way, but portion of the amendment went much further when it used the word “dictated.” “That is a ver ystrong word indeed,’ concluded Mr Speaker, “and is very much more than suggesting that the Government is influenced by interests outside.”

“1 would only just say in passing,” remarked Mr Hamilton in resuming his speech, “that our side ha often been accused of being influenced by wealthy interests outside this ouse.” He reminded the House of the published statement by Hon. W. Nash at the Labour conference: “This conference is the Parliament of the Labour Party, and the vote of this conference must determine the policy of the party.” This, argued Mr Hamilton, justified him in saying the Government was bound to carry out the conference policy, but he would obey the Speaker’s ruling and pass on

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