PRIVILEGE QUESTION

Northern Advocate, 28 July 1934, Page 8

PRIVILEGE QUESTION

REPORT OF MEETING REFLECTION ON MEMBERS COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A matter of privilege was raised in the House of Representatives yesterday in connection with the report of an address in the “Hawke’s Bay Herald” on July 25. Attention to the report was drawn by Mr A. J. Murdoch, Senior Government Whip, who said the article reflected on Members of Parliament. The article was a report of a meeting at Hastings addressed by Miss G. Hamilton Fraser on politics in New, Zealand. The headings on the article were; “Tottering Polities,” “Government, a Shambles of Irresponsibility,” “Miss G. 11. Fraser Speaks.” The following extracts from the report wore read: “Politics were approaching a stage where scientific control was needed to replace control by people who were characterised by administrative ignorance. - The Government’s history was a history of incompetence, of graft and corruption, and of commissions appointed to do the work which Parliament had not the brains to do. Honour was sacrificed to political advantage. The country was bankrupt financially, and pretty well bankrupt morally.” “I have no hesitation in saying that a prima facie ease has been made out,” said the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham. He said it was the duty of members of the House, whether they belonged to the Government or not, to 'protect members from charges of that sort. On the motion of the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, the matter was referred to the Committee of Privilege.

REPOET OF WOMAN'S ADDRESS. (Per Press Association.—Omyrlght.) HASTINGS, This Day. The question of privilege raised in the House of ■Representatives relates to the report of a meeting addressed by Miss E. Hamilton Eraser, who has been associated with a petition that is being circulated by her for the dissolution of Parliament.