INNUENDO IN QUESTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16823, 13 April 1918, Page 8

INNUENDO IN QUESTIONS.

PRIME MINISTER'S PRQTEST.' [BY telegraph.—special CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Sfeaeino in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) asked the Primo Minister whether one of the members of Cabinet handed to the Prime Minister at the beginning of March a letter alleging thaf the health of the Minister for Defence was such that he thought he was unfit to control the Wounded Soldiers' Department. Mr. Brown added that this probably had reference to the transfer of the control of wounded soldiers from Mr. Russell to Sir* James Allen, a transfer which was strenuously opposed by Mr. Russell. Mr. Massey replied to the question .at once, as follows: I have had many com-, municatioua from members of the Government from time to time on many subjects, but no such statement was mado in any communication to me. I hope that is sufficiently distinct. I want to make this further suggestion, that I do not think these statements should go into print, even in Hansard. Innuendo is *ihe worst form of attack, and should not bo tolerated in Parliament. Mr. Speaker said he considered an amendment of tho Standing Orders was necessary in order that questions might be submitted to him for review before being asked in the House. He believed that this was the practice in the House of Commons.