“LOP-SIDED”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9718, 21 July 1917, Page 8

“LOP-SIDED”

“PARTY” ATMOSPHERE A LIVELY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. AIR MASSEY* UNDER FIRE. As an interesting variation on the Addross-in-Reply debate, “party" again obtruded itself in the House of Representatives yesterday. The matter arose when the passing of the various select committees was being considered.

The Prime Minister suggested that the House sot up committees to consider various matters in to the different Ministerial departments. The debate on the Address-in-Reply had gone on a long time and work was piling Up. The passing of the various committees proceeded' peacefully until the Lands Committee was about to bo approved of. Dr Thacker (Christchurch East) said ho distinctly objected to the setting up of this committee, with a preponderance of Reform members. The committee was a most important one, and he wished to record a distinct protest. A member; “It is lop-sided.’’

'Air Payne (Grey Lynn) also protested. Notwithstanding the fact that it was supposed to bo a National Government there was still a preponderance of party element on the committees. He thought a division should he taken on the question. Mr Guthrie (Oroua) said both sides wore very fairly represented on tho committee.

A member: '‘There axe nine Reformers and five Liberals.”

LIBERAL WHIP NOT CONSULTED.

Mr Guthrie said trip committee was the same as that elected last year. It was composed of members who took a particular interest, in land matters. Mr Wilford; “Last year Mr Forbes and Mr Guthrie elected the committee. This year X understand that Air Guthrie alone elected the committee.” Mr Guthrie; “No; they axe the same committees.” Mr Wilford: "That Is not the answer I want. That is the answers the Ministers give you. I must protest against the hon. member fixing up this committee without consulting Air Forbes—the Wliip of the Liberal party. I don’t think it is a good or a fair way. It is lop-sided.” AIEN OF HONESTY WANTED-

Air A. H. Hindmiarsh said he was rather amused at the member for Oroua saying that the committee was only for farming matters. Other very important matters were dealt with. “I thought we wanted men of honesty on this committee more than men of knowledge,” said Air Hindmarsh. Air Nosworthy (Ashburton) ro?c _to a point‘of order. Air Hindmarsh imputed dishonesty to members of the committee. The Speaker: “The bon. member must not impute dishonesty.” Air Hindmarsh: ‘T don’t impute dishonesty.” Dr Thacker: “Oh, they are very tender.” SOME PERSONAL REFLECTIONS. Air Hindmarsh, continuing, said tho criterion upon which a committee should be sot up was open-mindedness. They knew tho sympathies of the Prime Minister in regal’d to waste lands. Alight it not be exercised on this committee? It was really very charactoristic of tho unfairness of -Mr Massey’s actions. Air Speaker; “You must not impute unfairness on the part of any member.” . ' Air Hindmarsh: “It is party feeling. Party feeling, I say. Air Alasscy is small-minded.”

Tlio Speaker: “Tho lion, member is again going away from his subject.” Air lit ad marsh : “Wo don’t want a small-minded member like Air Massey—-—” Tho : Speaker: “Thos© personal reflections are much to ho deprecated.”

Air Hindmarsh: ‘‘There aro certain people who are stupid ” The Speaker: “The hon. member is trifling with the House.” Air Hindmarsh added that he was strongly of tho opinion these committees were not well sot up. A member: “They are.” Mr Hindmarsh: “That is like the silly argument, ‘You’re another/ (Laughter.) It’s a fanner’s argument.”

Air Hindmarsh went on to say that ho considered the lop-sided committee sot up reflected on the partiality of tho Prime Alinistor. Mr Jennings (ranmaninui) added his protest, but not from any party feeling. Tho setting-up of a committee should bo tho duty of the Alinistor for the Crown. It was extraordinary that the setting-up of important committees was in tho hands of one member of tho House. He instanced tho fact that while land settlement in the North was a big question there were only four North Island members out of tho thirteen members on tho committee. Air Witty (Riccarton) suggested that Air Jennings be included on the committee instead of Captain Coates, who, at any rate, could not be present. A SOMNOLENT BUNCH. Mr' Poole (Auckland West) said tho committee under discussion was one of the most vital and important committees of the House. Some people were beginning to say that Liberal members of the Cabinet, were a somnolent bunch. Perhaps this was why there

was a preponderance of the Rctorm clement on the committee. At present there was the untimely agitation for the sale of Crown endowments. Members: “Never heard of it. Anv measure brought in would bs submitted to the Lands Committee, and it was on the recommendation ot this committee that the Government •would have to act. He would ask tho Prime .Minister in connection with the agitation foi the sale of Crown endowments that this matter he lett over until after the war. A NEW PARTY.

.Mr Vritch (Wanganui) said he wished to defend -Mr Hindroarsh against the accusation that he had imputed dishonesty to members of tho Lands Committee. Mr Sneaker; “You arc disputing mv ruling. 1 have ruled that Mr Hindmarsh suggested dishonesty." Ml- Vditch continued that the National Government was really sheltering itself behind the patriotism of the people. “Wo are goingHo see," bo added, “if we cannot collect enough power in this House to prevent two Government doing these things.’’ Mr Nosworthy : “You are working for that day and night.” Mr Veiteh replied that when the Government came forward and created a lop-sided committee, with the Reform element predominent, it was really they who wore creating the party feeling in the House. If they wanted to get rid of party element they should first delete party tactics. AN INFERENCE. Sir John Findlay said it would bo well if the House first had a clear definition of tho principle on which theso committees were elected. Ho believed it was Mr Massey’s ideal that there should be efficiency, not party. Ho proposed to make an inference that had not yet been made on tho matter under discussion. The committee in question was comprised of nine members from one side of the House and five from the other. Ho inferred that this gauged the relative efficiency on each side of tho The same should apply to Cabinet. (Laughter.) •Mr McCallum (Wairau) said that no member should bo on such 1 a committee who looked only after his own interests. Tho Prime Minister should look into tho minute-book and eliminate the names of those who used tho committee for their own interest.

Mr Nosworthy (Ashburton) said the less said about this matter the better. The committees always hod done good conscientious work. The mover should let the matter drop. MR MASSEY REPLIES.

Mr Massey said it was extraordinary that although the committees bad been before the House for a few days not a single complaint had been received. In his recent experience of committees he could not sec a single instance of party spirit actuating members. Mr Payne hero made an interjection. Mr Nosworthy: “Oh, keep quiet.” Mr Payne: “Oh, Sally, keep qniet yourself.” (Laughter.) THE HAPPY FAMILY. Mr Massey added that he was sorry the Liberal member was not consulted in the matter, but the reason, was that the committee was the same as last year. No objection had been raised before. Dr Thacker: “I raised an objection.” Mr Massey; “I have no recollection of it.” Dr Thacker: “You replied. You said we were a happy family.” Mr Massey (gaily): “So we are.” Dr Thacker; “No we aren’t.” (Laughter.) Mr Massey: “I am sorry the hon. member is unhappy. He is the only unhappy member of tho House. I hope he, will get out of it.” (Laughter.) Mr Massey said he had no objection to the name of Mr Jennings being added to the committee. Tho committee was adopted with this alteration. WHY HE WAS IGNORED.

Later, when the Industries Committee was being sot up, Mr Payne voiced a protest because he was not included in its personnel. If a member was out to see fair play for the people, to lay bare chicanery and. iniquitous* proposals, ho was always ignored in the setting up of important committees. The reason was obvious. To bo on a committee, such as the one under notice, was considered an honour in the House. Although ho had been several years in the House, ho had only been included in the meet unimportant committee of the House. Mr Massey had said that ho had always been fair and square in his dealings. How was it, then, that when important matters were to be considered hy the committee it was always stuffed with the Reform element? Ho wished to expose this to the country, and he was doing so now. There was no other reason for a preponderance of the Reform clement on the committees other than that they might secure a favourable report.

Mr. Harris (Waitemata) objected to Mr Payne’s accusation. In the Ato L Committee there were five Reform members and five Liberals. hi oreover, the Chairman was a Liberal. PARTY RAMPANT.

The setting up of the committees proceeded until it came to the Labour Bills Committee. Dr Thacker said the personnel of this committee was out of all reason. There were in it six Labour members, three Reformers, and one Liberal. There could ho no happy family in such circumstances. It was all very well to talk about National Government • party was rampant in the House. He believed that the. flics and thd lower microbes in. the House could sense the party feeling. It was the same old merry-go-round all the time, and the same old tunes were being harped out. Before ho came to the House ho always thought Mr Massey gave a fair and a square deal.

Tho Speaker: "The han. member is going away from tho question.” Dr Thacker; "Well, this committee does not give us a square deal.”

Dr Thacker went back to Mr Massey shortly. He said that Mr Massey had a reputation for fair play when ho was wandering in the desert, but now he had got into tho Promised Land—and ho said he was going to stop there for twenty years,! Mr Payne also protested that he had /lot been included in tho committee. It was wrong for Mr Massey to set up a Labour Committee with a preponderance of tho Reform element. It meant that anything that would really benefit Labour would be knocked on tiie head. "Why not call this tho Political Reform Dodgery Committee P” (Laughter.)

The remainder of tho committees were passed as framed.