EXCHANGE OF PERSONALITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21627, 23 April 1932, Page 6

EXCHANGE OF PERSONALITIES

INCIDENT IN, THE HOUSE . MR HARGEST AND LABOUR v... MEMBERS: :i ; (From Ocr Parliamentary. Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Apri1,.,22. A quarrel between Labour members and a Government supporter who proposed to side with the Opposition against the reductions in the old-age pensions led to a heated incident in the House early this -morning.'

Speaking after Mr Semple, Mr J. A. Hargest (Invercargill) said he regretted that such extravagant language should be used as bad been employed by Mr Semple. “ I will support the Labour Party on this question and make no apology for doing, so,” he said, “ but I feel almost apologetic, for going into the same lobby as a member who uses such extravagant language.” Mr Carr: We do not want you. Mr J. A. Lee proceeded to take Mr Hargest to task for apologising for bis decision. If Mr Hargest grudged his vote and was not casting it against the reduction because of his convictions and goodness of heart it would be better for him to run away from the chamber. Mr Carr: He is a jumped-up wljippersnupper.

Mr Hargest immediately rose to a point of order to complain about the personal nature of Mr Carr’s remark. “ At the instigation of the chairman (Mr Smith) Mr Carr expressed regret that he had used the term.

The chairman: I think you should apologise. too. Mr Carr: No, I won’t apologise. I express regret for saying in the heat of the moment what the Standing Orders prevent me from saying. Speaking subsequently, Mr Hargest said he obeyed the dictates of his- conscience and made no apology for his stand. He objected to the personalities being thrown across the floor of the House and almost apologised for being.associated with men who made such utterances. f The chairman: I cannot allow this to develop into a personal attack. Mr Hargest: I have finished. .