WRANGLE IN THE HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15685, 12 August 1914, Page 7

WRANGLE IN THE HOUSE

OPPOSITION PROTEST.

£QX APPRISED OF BILL.

6IE J. WARD SURPRISED. rj V UStEGIUPH-SPKCIAt COBRESPONDEXT.]. . , Wellington*, Tuesday. ■yirEX the Public Revenue Amendment ill was brought before the House of Representatives this afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward expressed surprise that ho had not bc en told tl.o nature of it. He regretted that at such a great crisis such a step ],a(. not been taken to obtain tho hearty goodwill of the Opposition. Such steps ve re being taken in every other country at the present moment. He would, howover. give all t!,,> assistance m bis power to passing the Bill, even though he did not know the contents of it. The fact that ho had " flt '" , ' tol(1 of tn< * ''' ll ,vas 8 complete departure from what was being exercised by responsibly Governments in other portions of the Empire, including England. Tho Hon. J*'"" Allen said he wa3 very rrV indeed to hear that Sir Joseph Ward felt aggrieved over the matter. He could not agree with him that tho New Zealand Government was pursuing a different policy from ~lllor Governments. If Sir Joseph had not sufficient time to digest the Bill, be would have very much pleasure in asking tho Primo Minister to postpone the second reading of the Bill until to-morrow or another day. No Discourtesy Intended. The Bill was one relating to the Public J Revenues Act. and the Government thought it their plain duty to bring it before the Houso of Representatives. It had never occurred to him to consult tho Leader of the Opposition on such a

matter, and he could assure him that not the slightest discourtesy was intended.

Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) Mid he would like to pour a little oil on the troubled waters. Ho would suggest that the Prime Minister and the Minister jor Defence should resign their seats and Jet the member for Awarua run this country. (Hear, hear.)

Sir Joseph Ward, rising hastily, said be wanted to say at once that ho had never listened to a more remarkable statement, from a member who never did much in tho way of intelligence to help them.

Mr. Speaker hero interposed. "Grotesquely Impertinent."

Sir Joseph Ward : I think that it is grotesquely impertinent. Mr. H. G. EU (Christchurch South) said he thought Dr. Newman's speech was very regrettable.

Sir Joseph Ward: He introduced party straight away. ..

Mr. Ell added that this want of harmony was painful to' ovcryono in the House. . For the sake of the unity and the- harmony of the Parliament, he thought it would be well to consult tho leader of the Opposition when a Bill that was a matter of urgency was being brought down.

Mr. Allen I have not said it nt a matter of urgency.

Mr. Massey, who had come in from tho Cabinet-room, said he was sorry he was not in the House when the discussion came up. Ho assured tho Leader of the Opposition and his followers that there was no discourtesy intended. The Bill iras brought, down in the ordinary way by Governor's Message, arid ho was not going on with it that day. He proposed Id take .it" tomorrow. Ho could riot" recollect, •'"any time in which it was considered necessary to give notice to the other . side of a Bill introduced by Governor's Message.

Lr.ck of Time.

The Ministers, he said, were working tinder very high pressure,, but he was not complaining or whining about that. He had intended seeing tho Leader of the Opposition that morning, but ho had not had five minutes to spare.

'Sir Joseph Ward: I made no complaint on that score.

.Mr. Massey : I meant to ask him to come to my room.so that we might consider the business of the House, but I had not a minute to spare.

Sir Joseph Ward said he had raised the question without any feeling. There was only one member of the House who had introduced party, the member for Wellington East, who had made a regrettable statement. They would find that the Leader of the Opposition was consulted in England last week.„

Mr. Allen : I don't find it so.

Sir Joseph Ward: Well, it is so, and it. was done in Australia last week, and it was done in New Zealand before. Sir Joseph Ward spoke at some length on the subject, and was supported by Mr. P. Webb (Grey), who said he thought the, Labour members aJso should be consulted. In Belgium the Leader of the Socialists had been appointed Minister for Order. ' If that was done, a good deal of this wrangling would be -done away with.

.. Mr. H. Atmoro (Nelson) spoke in a similar strain to other Opposition members. In other countries the Opposition had been consulted. Taken Into Confidence. . Mr, Massey said the Cabinet had tried to meet the Leader of the Opposition in every possible way. (Hear hear). They had called the Leader of tho Opposition in on quite a number of occasions, he did not know how many, but they did not go about the country telling people "nat they were doing. On several occasions Sir Joseph Ward had conferred with tho Governor and himself. Ho had be«B called in yesterday forenoon and *as told everything they were able to tell him.

A Member: Well, what's the trouble?

','••>' • "Why Make a Fuss?"

Another Member: Why make a fuss 'toot it, then? ' Mr. Maseey : I don't know where- the trouble comes in. Ho pointed out that .*> far as Australia, wag concerned there p ß * no parallel between what was going °" there and here. The Australian Parliament was not sitting, am he did not -; think the Canadian Parliament was sit-

V A Member : In N'ew South Wales they «aye not done any more than wo hav'o • done,

v!«r. Massey: f don't think as much. « a matter of fact, [ think this trouble «ems to bo getting on our nerves, and >lt may be necessary to adjourn for a, ; m days to let tilings settle down.