BUSINESS IN POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 13

BUSINESS IN POLITICS.

MR. ATMORE'S CRITICISM.

METHODS OF PARLIAMENT.

COMMERCIAL MEN NOT DESIRED.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.]

WELLINGTON. Thursday

In view of the repeated declarations by the Postemaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, that more businessmen were needed in Parliament, the expression of the contrary f view by his Cabinet colleague, the Hon. *H. Atmore, claimed attention in the House this evening, and an intriguing rumour spread round the lobbies subsequently that Mr. Donald proposed to contest Mr. Atmore's statement.' However, Mr. Atmore's remarks were not challenged by the time the midnight adjournment arrived.

Mr. Atmore said businessmen were not desired in Parliament if it were to function as it was intended and to act in the interests of the people. There had been one example rnly of men outstanding in politics and business—Sir Joseph Ward. ' v

Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour—Auckland Suburbs): What fibout Sir Arthur Myers ? *

Mr. Atmore cbntended that if Parliament were to be lun by business men for profit from people in the present state of affairs with receipts falling eff, there would be wholesale "sackings" and thousands, added to the dole and charitable aid lists. It was significant that although many business men sought election, few wcrq returned. There was a clear line of demarcation between the profit-making methods of the ordinary business men and methods that should l'e followed iby Parliament. It was a truism that the business methods of Parliament must be tempered. Mr. D. Jones (Reform —Mid-Canter-bury) : The Postmaster-General is a business man. The Speaker: Order. Mr. Atmore said there seemed to be a certain doubt 011 the part of the electors that if a man could make profits outside Parliament he might not be truly altruistic inside.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Legislative-Council met this afternoon. '■ ■, The Hon. E. H. Clark (Otago) was elected Chairman of Committees. The debate on the Address-in-Replv was resumed by the Hon. M. Fagan (Westland), who congratulated ' Sir Francis Bell oil his attack on the Government's proposals. He was particularly opposed to the 10 per cent, cut and the proposal to give the Arbitration Court power" to revise awards. The Hon. R. McCallum (Marlborough) expressed the opinion that there were hundreds' of civil servants who were grossly, overpaid. Sir Francis Bell had shown great sympathy for the lower-paid civil servant, but he had had no word of sympathy for the worker outside the service,, who would Buffer ju«t as acutely. The debate was adjourned.