FRAYED TEMPERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 13

FRAYED TEMPERS.

"EXTRAVAGANT LANGUAGE.''

MEMBER REFUSES APOLOGY. MR. HARGEST AND LABOUR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER. ] WELLINGTON, Friday. A quarrel between Labour members and a Government supporter who proposer! to side with the Opposition against the reductions in old-age pensions led to a heated interlude in the House of Representatives early this morning. Speaking after Mr. R. Semple (Labour—Wellington East), Mr. J. Hargest (Government —Invercargill) said he regretted that such extravagant language should be used as had been employed by Mr. Semple. " I will support the Labour Tarty on this question and make no apology for doing so," said Mr. Hargest, " but I do feel almost apologetic for going into the same lobby as a member who uses such extravagant language." Mr. C. L. Carr (Labour—Timaru): We do not want you. Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour— Grey Lynn) proceeded to take Mr. Hargest to task in apologising for his decision. If Mr. Hargest grudged his vote and was not casting it against the reduction because of his convictions and goodness of his heart, it would be better for him to run away from the Chamber. Mr. Carr: He is a jumped-up whipper-

snapper! Mr. Hargest immediately rose to a point of order to complain about the personal nature of Mr. Carr's remark.

At the instigation of the Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith, Mr. Carr expressed regret that he had used the term.

The Chairman: I think you should

apologise, too. Mr. Carr: No, I won't apologise. I express regret for saying in the heat of the moment what the Standing Orders prevent me from saying.

Speaking subsequently, Mr. Hargest said ho obeyed the dictates of his conscience and had no apology to make for the stand he took on the question. He objected to personalities being thrown across the floor of the House and almost apologised for being associated with men who made such utterances. The Chairman: I cannot allow this to develop into a personal attack by one member against another. Mr. Hargest: I am done.