LABOUR M.R'S. OUTBURST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 7

LABOUR M.R'S. OUTBURST.

WORDS WITH MR. IStTT. INTERRUPTIONS IN THE HOUSE. [BY telegraph.— special eepobteb.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Speaking on the gratuities question in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr. H. E. Holland (Grey) began: " In January, 1916, when, I may mention, Mr. Massey and Mr. W. M. Hughes I were meeting secretly in Auckland Mr. Massey : What is that ? Mr. Holland : 1 said in January, 1916, when you and Mr. Hughes were meeting secretly in Auckland. Mr. Massey : There was nothing secret about it. Mr. Hughes happened to be passing through Auckland and 1 went there to meet him. Mr. .Holland: There was this much secret about it that the censor refused to allow it to be mentioned. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Cliristchurch North) : That was done for his safety. Mr. Holland : It was made a crane to mention, that Mr. Hughes was in Auckland. Mr. Massey : I know nothing about that. Mr. Isitt : And it was dene for the safety of Mr. Hughes. Mr. Holland : And Mr. Hughes camouflaged his departure from Australia. He said he was going by one steamer, and went by another— ' There was a further burst of interjections, and the Speaker called Mr. Holland to order, pointing out that he as wandering from the point. Mr. Holland then recalled that in January, 1916, when a Labour conference with one dissentient carried a motion opposing conscription it also laid it down that the. soldiers' pay should be on the basis of the wages of the best-paid artisan, and also that pensions should be on a much higher basis. Mr. Isitt : And how many did you urs" to go? Mr. Holland : I would have been glad enough to have urged the hon. member to go if I thought it would have had any effect. A further interruption by Mr. Isitt drcr from Mr. Holland the declaration : " I do hate utterly the old man who never went to this war or any other war. and shrieks about others who ought to go to the war." Members : But his sons went. Mr. Holland : A man ought not to she.ter behind his sons' service. Members : But his sons fought for yo :.. Mr. Holland attempted to continue under a fire of interjections, which cau9B« the Speaker to call for order. Mr. Holland concluded by declaring:' "If my son were concerned I would n«s try to take the credit of his service, i would let him have the credit of h** service." Mr. Holland then proceeded witi his criticism of the proposals.