EXPIRY OF MANDATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21861, 25 July 1934, Page 13

EXPIRY OF MANDATE

MR. IEE VEHEMENT REPROOF FROM MR. SPEAKER REMARK LATER WITHDRAWN [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The language used by Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour —Grey Lynn) in condemning the Government's proposal to extend the life of Parliament brought a sharp reproof from Mr. Speaker in the House of Representatives this afternoon. "I have a memory of a war for democracy," said Mr. Lee, speaking on the Prime Minister's motion for leave to introduce the Electoral Amendment Bill. "I am going to say this, that if it was legitimate for a man to put a bullet into the head of an individual opposed to democracy, then it is legitimate, when the original mandate for this Parliament has expired, for a wronged citizen to put a bullet into the head of a legislator."

Mr. Speaker: I must ask the honourable member to withdraw that. Mr. Lee: But I believe it, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker: Order, order. The honourable gentleman is exceeding all bounds. I am afraid that kind of talk in this House is calculated to do a great deal of harm in the country. It simply amounts to making a threat. I must ask the honourable gejitleman to withdraw that statement. Agreement to Withdraw Mr. Lee: I withdraw then, sir. But before 1 proceed further, may I ask am I not entitled to suggest that at some stage a Government may provoke the violent resistance of the people? I believe that If I cannot suggest that, I don't want to carry on in this House. Mr. Speaker: I think the honourable gentleman had better leave it at that. Mr. Lee: May I say that the people of England cut off the head of a king, and I do not think the head of a commoner is entitled to any greater consideration than the people of England, in defence of their constitutional privileges, accorded to the head of their king. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour — Christchurch East): The Government would be just as good without heads. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Speaker (to Mr. Lee): I will have to ask the honourable gentleman presentlv exactly what he means. Mr. Lee: Quite frankly, my position is this, that if at some time usurpation such as occurred in Germany were to occur in Isew Zealand, I would rather register my opposition before I was behind a barbed wire fence than after. Originators of Movement

"Where did the four-year plan come from?" asked Mr. Lee. "As far as I know, the first mention of an extension of the life of Parliament came, I think, from the lips of the late bir Arthur Bankart when the formation of the Coalition Government was being discussed. Members will know it was quite common talk at that moment that part of the bargain entered into was that the life of Parliament should be extended. "I know I met people other than members of Parliament coming off the Main Trunk almost immediately after the inter-party cbmmittee was set up to consider the question of a Coalition Government, and they told nie that the proposal was that the life of Parliament should be extended. A newspaper editor told me that an extension had been arranged long before it was even suggested publicly. The secretary of the Licensed Victuallers' Association also told me." Later in his speech, Mr. Lee predicted that 'if the Electoral Amendment Bill were passed, a Sedition Bill would be brought before the House before the end of the session, because the present sedition law would not enable the Government to usurp the power of government as it was trying to usurp it today. NO PRIOR ARRANGEMENT denial of statement LABOUR MEMBER'S REPLY [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Reference to a portion of the remarks of Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour—Grev Lynn) was made later by Mr. b. U. Smith (Government —TSew Plymouth). li \ understood Mr. Lee to say he was told prior to the last election that an arrangement was entered into by the Government party and the trade tor the permanent extension of the life of Parliament to four years,' said Mr. Smith. Mr. Lee: I did not put it that way. Mr. Smith: Well, I understood him to say he was informed by the secretary of the Licensed Victuallers' Association that there was such an arrangem<Mr'. Lee: I was told the late Sit Alfred Bankart was advocatine it. Mr Smith: Well, I am in a position to say that Mr. Michael Walsh, who is secretary to the Licensed Victualldrs Association, will absolutely deny ever having made that statement, and he is prepared to swear an affidavit to that effect. On no occasion did he make the statement, even by inference, that there was any arrangement between the Government party, or any of its agents, with the trade in that respect. Mr Lee: I did not say the agreement was between the Government and the trade. I said he definitely stated that the life of Parliament was going to be extended.