WORDS IN THE HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 10

WORDS IN THE HOUSE

■♦■ ■ ■ LAND BOARD MEMBERS. CHARGE AGAINST PREMIER. DENIAL BY MR. MASSEY. [BV rajfliurn.— CORBE3POVDENT. 1 » ' Weuinoto.v, Friday. The first pasß-ige-at-arms of the session took place shortly after the House met IhJB afternoon in connection with a notice of question by Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurn--1 nui) relating to a recent appointment to 1 the Marlborough Land Board. The question, as read by Mr. Forbes implied that a political opponent of the Government i had been removed from the Land Board i in order to make room for a political » supporter. 1 The Prime Minister declared that the ) statement that he had removed a member I of the Land Board in order to make room . for a political supporter was contrary to fact. Mr. Forbes: You made the statement '. yourself! Mr. Money said thai it bad been stated by members of the "flying squadron" that he had said he would bavo no man on a land board who was not ono of his political 1 supporters. "That statement," Mr. Massey , declared, with marked emphasis, "is i fake. That statement, I say, is a falsehood." , Voices: Order! Order! Sir Joseph Ward: The Prime Minister said last session that ho would not place , anyone on a land board who was not pre- . pared to give effect to his policy. Mr. Massey: Land policy. Sir Joseph said that' tho statement implied that all men appointed to the boards must be Government supporters. 1 Mr. Massey: No! No! I said last year, , and I say it ajain as Minister for Lands, , tUt I will not place on any land board a man whom I know to bo antagonistic ! to my land policy. "The flying squadron" and other position speakers in the , recess omitted to say, however, that half I the men whom I have appointed to land , boards were political opponents. Opposition Members: Give the names! Air. Massey: Yea! I am prepared to give the names. Mr. R. McCallura (Wairau): That has not been the caso in Marlborough. Mr. Massey: I am not prepared to say that it has happened in Marlborough, but I repeat -that half the men whom I have appointed have been opposed to me politically in past years. Opposition Members: Yes! In the past! Mr. Massey said that it was apparently suggested that because political opponents had been appointed that they had become political supporters, but he knew nothing of their politics. "The Leader of the Opposition," Mr. Massey added, amidst laughter, "voted for ray land policy last year and I would be quite prepared to put him on a land board." Sir Joseph Ward I have never been a nominated member of any board In my life. The discussion then terminated. '