" ‘TOOL OF MINISTER"

Northern Advocate, 8 November 1934, Page 6

" ‘TOOL OF MINISTER"

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER LABOURITE’S ALLEGATION. WARM RETORT BY MR COATES. IFrom Our Parliamentary Special.] WELLINGTON, This Day. The statement made and repeated by Mr R. McKean (Labour, Wellington South) in the. House of Representatives last night that the Public Service Commissioner was “a good tool of the Minister,” brought a hot retort from Mr Coates, who declared: “That is the most unfair and unsubstantiated statement 'ever made in , this House. You may have the credit of it, but I say it will do you no credit at all.” Mr Coates, in speaking during the discussion on the Native Commission’s report, said Mr McKean had made a statement that the Public Service Commissioner was only a tool in the hands of the Government. Mr McKean; “I believe ia.” Mr Coates: “I, am sorry it doesn’t do Mr McKean justice. He also made the statement that there was more corruption in the Public Service than anywhere else.” Mr McKean: “Among the heads of departments.” Mr Coates: “He wants a Royal Commission to inquire into the conduct of departments. We have heard that about almost every department of Slate from time to time from the Opposition benches. I want to ask Mr McKean if he honestly believes and seriously thinks that public affairs are not carried out honestly,” ' Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland

Central); “A spring cleaning would do no harm.”

Mr Coates: “I have heal’d that before. For 13 years you have been saying. that.” He added that Mr McKean’s suggestion was unworthy of the member who made it.

Mr McKean: “I take full responsibility for it.” Mr Coates: “Very well, and I say that if there is any proposal for a change of control of the Public Service in the Dominion the first expression of protest will come from the Public Service itself. Never do they want to go back to the old days, when it was by the will of politicians or the Government of the day that a man was appointed, promoted or otherwise dealt with.”