DISORDER IN HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21421, 20 February 1933, Page 11

DISORDER IN HOUSE

OUTBURST BY LABOUR CLOSURE MOTION RESENTED AN EARLY MORNING UPROAR PROTEST AGAINST CHAIRMAN [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Sunday Scenes of wild disorder provoked by Labour members' chagrin at tho acceptance of a closure motion by the Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith, occurred in the House of Representatives at six o'clock this morning. The upshot was that tho Speaker was summoned and Mr. P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Central), who had characterised Mr. Smith as the most inefficient occupant of the Chair tho House had ever seen, eventually withdrew his remark after a previous refusal to do so. Four Labour members had spoken to an amendment moved by Mr. J. A. Leo (Labour —Grey Lynn) to strike out the clause dealing with the giving of securities by merchants who were licensed under tho Sales Tax Bill, when the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, moved the closure. There was instant uproar from the Labour benches, members almost screaming "No, no," shouting for Mr. Speaker to be sent for and ridiculing the Prime Minister's action as "absolute nonsense" and "silly." Opposition members were jumping up in their places, waving their arms and shouting to the Chairman that no real opportunity had been given for discussion of the clause and that the right of tho minority had been infringed. Remarks by Mr. Fraser Mr. Smith said the committee had been sitting over 24 hour^. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon): We should leave the Chamber as a protest. Mi - . Fraser: No, not that. There was continual shouting and Labour members were vying with one another in hurling remarks at the Chairman. Above the din Mr. J. O'Brien (Westland) shouted, "You can't play the game, anyhow." Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier) complained bitterly that no explanation of the clause had been given by the Minister, other members accusing the Chairman of '-absolute partiality," while Mr. Fraser commented, "the most inefficient member who has ever sat in tho chair of this committee." The Chairman: I ask you to withdraw that. Mr. Fraser (heatedly): I won't. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs), jumping up: I want to endorse those words. The Chairman (to Mr. Fraser): Will you repeat what you said 1 Mr. Fraser: Yes. The most inefficient Member who has ever sat in the chair of this committee. Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East): Inefficient and cowardly. The Chairman asked Mr. Semple what words he had used and received the reply, "My mind is so tired and I have become so absent-minded that I cannot remember." Mr. Smith: You used the words inefficient and cowardly. Government Members: Yes, yes. Refusal to Withdraw The Chairman started to make a note of the wefrds used and while he was doing so there was a continual hubbub from the Opposition benches. He received frequent invitations to name members and Mr. O'Brien suggested he should name the whole lot on the Labour side of the House. As he could get ? no satisfaction from Mr. Fraser 6r Mr. Semple the Chairman sent for the Speaker. When requested by Mr. Speaker Mr. Fraser refused to withdraw the words used, adding that Mr. Semple had not been asked to withdraw. Mr. Smith said he had not asked Mr. Semple on account o): the disorder. Refusing once again to withdraw the words, Mr. Fraser left the Chamber at Mr. Speaker's request. The Prime Minister said that Mr. Lee's motion had obviously been used to delay proceedings, being the culmination Of a long period of Labour obstruction. It was necessary to reach a division if the bill were to be put through. Otherwise, if a minority were to be in a position of preventing legislation going through the whole system of Parliamentary government would fall down. The only means of preventing such obstruction was to use the closure and he did not think the House could complain of the manner in which advantage had been taken of it. Asked by Mr. Speaker whether, in view of Mr. Fraser's attitude, he would move a resolution, the Prime Minister said that Mr. Fraser had used the words deliberately and with the intention that they should be heeded. The House was at the time undoubtedly getting out of control. End of the Incident Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour —Roskill): Not before you came in. Mr. Forbes said he could not recall an occasion on which greater disorder had occurred and more unparliamentary language was used. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, objected strongly to the Prime Minister's suggestion that obstruction had occurred. The rules of procedure had been observed and there had been no disorder until the Prime Minister moved tho closure. It was admitted there had been strong feeling, but members had been given no Ministerial explanation of the clause and the opinion was that the Chairman had acted harshly. A little tact would have avoided much of the trouble. Mr. Smith: I was exercising tact and extreme latitude for 24 hours. Mr. Holland said lie would not justify any expression used, but what was said had arisen out of a tense situation. On being recalled to the Chamber, at the direction of Mr. Speaker, Mr. Fraser said: "I will respect the rules of the House. I withdraw and express my regret." Mr. Fraser withdrew again. The Prime Minister then intimated that in view of the circumstances he would propose that no further action be taken. This was agreed to. Mr. Semple admitted using the word "cowardly," but said he had employed it in a general sense. He withdrew it at Mr. Speaker's request. The incident was closed by a handshake between the Chairman and Mr. Fraser.