PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

DEBATE PROCEEDS LABOUR STANDS ALOOF pensions for invalids PRIVATE BILL DISCUSSED NO HOPE OF SUCCESS [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday In spite of Labour's attitude of silent ploofness, the continuation of the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day was productive of. several interesting speeches. Early in the sitting, Labour members showed plainly that their newfound policy applies only to this one debate, for they occupied two hours in <the afternoon speaking on the introductory stages of the Invalid Pensions ]3ill promoted by Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour —Westland). This measure has been consistently before Parliament for several years and everyone knows it must be eventually ruled out because it involves an appropriation, yet member after member on the Opposition benches rose to repeat the statements that had been uttered many times before. The result was that the Address-in-Reply debate was not resumed until a quarter of an hour before the expiry of the afternoon sitting. Prime Minister's Speech Chief interest to the evening's proceedings was imparted by the Prime Minister, Mr. 'Forbes, who said he welcomed Labour's presumed desire to shorten debates. He then offered, to set up a committee with a view to ensuring that the number of speakers in *ll debates would he limited, thus placing the work of Parliament on a more businesslike basis. Unfortunately, there seems little prospect of the Labour Party joining in this suggestion of cooperative action, which, as Mr. Forbes pointed out, represented the method emploj-ed in the British Parliament. There were indications that Labour members were somewhat restive under their yoke of''silence. However, their cause was well served .in a speech by Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (IndependentEden), who gave the Opposition credit for producing a practical and comprehensive policy, whereas he attacked the Government vigorously on many points of its programme. Mr. Stallworthy was particularly severe on Mr. Forbes, whom he described as a leaner and not a leader, and on, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, with whose criticism of the Labour Party on the previous evening Mr. Stallworthy found cause to take particular exceptiou. Helpful Interjections Itiwas noted-that Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames), whose allegiance with the Government is nowadays somewhat slender, was _ ready at ail times with helpful interjections during Mr. Stallworthy's speech. "I hold no brief for the Labour Party," explained Mr. Stallworthy. "In fact, they are' now in my electorate trying to unseat nie." Nevertheless Mr. Stallworthy was deputed to make a personal explanation on behalf of Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour—Christchurch East), who had earlier in the day been involved in an argument with Mr. A. Stuart (Government —Rangitikei), and that .was one of several indications that/ Mr. Slallworthy is on much more cordial terms with the Opposition than with the Government, with which he was formerly associated. It is expected that the debate will conclude to-morrow, in which case it will be one of the briefest of its kind on record.

REMARK RESENTED t, ATTENDANCE AT MEETING , MR. SPEAKER INTERVENES [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday A short but tense scene occurred in the House of Representatives this afternoon when Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour—Christchurch East) declared to be untrue a statement by Mr. A. Stuart (Government —Rangitikei) that there was an attendance of only 12 at a meeting recently addressed by Mr. Armstrong in his capacity as president of the Labour Party. Mr. Stuart said that Mr. Armstrong addressed a meeting in a township just outside Mr. Stuart's electorate, and although it was a thickly-populated settlement, he was told there were only 12 present. Mr. Armstrong: That is untrue. Mr. Stuart: 1 said I was subject to , correction. Mr. Speaker called on Mr. Armstrong to withdraw the expression, and suggested he should say it was contrary to fact. _ Mr. Armstrong: To my way of thinking it is the same thing. However, 1 trill say it is contrary to fact. Mr. Stuart was about to resume his speech, when Mr. Armstrong shouted out, "And ho knows it is untrue, that , is another thing." Mr. Speaker again asked Mr. Armstrong to withdraw. He did so, and Mr. Stuart then resumed his speech. After the tea adjournment Mr. Stuart said he wished to apologise to Mr. Armstrong for not reporting the correct figures. He had taken the trouble to look them up during the adjournment. There were not 12 men at the meeting. There were 14 men, five women and two children. "I promised to discharge a duty before sitting down," said Mr. A. J. Stall worthy (Independent —Eden J when speaking in the evening. Mr. Stallworthy said -he was credibly informed that the Maygr of Taihape, who had presided at meetings held by Mr. Armstrong and by Mr. Stuart, had said the attendance at the former's meeting was lust about five'- times as large as that a t Mr. Stuart's meeting.

Register of opticians application rights [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday Tt is understood that the Opticians Amendment Bill, notice of which was Riven in the House to-day by the Hon. • Y . oun g> Minister of Internal Jiatts, is designed principally to deal V , several cases of hardship. It is Stated that are several opticians .0. would have been placed 011 the or 'ginal register, but who failed to ®PP'y for various reasons. Probably Gr e are not more than a dozen such . a ses m the Dominion. it is believed the bill will enable such Practitioners to apply for- registration n possibly powers will be given for Paging the roll, as has been done re*»teions* n coimcct * ou ot^er P ro "