RETAINER OF £250

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21934, 18 October 1934, Page 13

RETAINER OF £250

MR. F. W. FEE LABOUR CRITICISM RAISED [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday When' the Public Works Estimates were being discussed in the House of Representatives to-night, Labour members protested against the payment of £250 a year to Mr. F. W. Furkert, formerly engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, as technical adviser to the department. They asked what he had done to justify it. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour —Waimarino) moved that the vote be reduced by £250 as a protest. The Hon. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, said the payment of £250 was the arrangement made when Mr. Furkert retired, and it would have three more years to run. He would do nothing to upset the honourable arrangement made at that time. When the retainer was paid, it did not mean that it was. earned in one year. Some vears might be light, but others heavy. Air. Furkert had done a month's exploring work in the South early in the present ?ear. After a two hours' discussion the amendment was rejected by 32 fcptes to 28.

WARNING TO MEMBERS LABOUR INTERJECTORS POSSIBLE SUSPENSION [BV TKLKCRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Another warning to certain Labour members that he would have to suspend them for the remainder of the sitting unless they refrained from constant interjections was issued by Mr. Speaker in the House of Representatives to-night while the Hon. J. Kitchener, Minister of Pnblic Works, was replying to the debate on the Public Works Statement. "I am very sorry to have to say so," said Mr. Speaker, "but half a dozen members are a constant nuisance with their interjections, and I will have no alternative but to order them out of the House for the remainder of the sitting if they persist." Rising to a point of order, Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) said he would respectfully suggest to Mr. Speaker that if a member was considered to have transgressed the Standing Orders, it was the duty of Mr. Speaker to call ,011 the Prime Minister to move a motion "Perhaps the words 'constant nuisance' werfe rather unfortunate," said Mr. Speaker. Mr. R. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South): Uncalled for. Mr. Speaker: Order. I will admit that, but, members have tried my patience to the utmost, and I will have to exercise the powers vested in me by Standing Orders if this continues. Mr. Parry made an interjection, whereupon Mr. Speaker said, "The member for Auckland Central has no special dispensation for interrupting." There were some murmured comments from Labour members, but the House returned to its normal business without further incident.

BILLS INTRODUCED

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Rent Restriction Bill, the River Boards Amendment Bill and the Counties Amendment Bill were introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives to-day.