INCIDENT IN HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 6

INCIDENT IN HOUSE

CHAIRMAN’S RULING DEFIED MEMBER UPHELD BY SPEAKER (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 0 The refusal of Mr T. L. Macdonald (Oppn. Mataura) to obey the ruling of the Chairman of Committees, Mr R. McKeen, by withdrawing the words “arrant political jobbery,” was upheld by the Speaker, Mr F. W. Schramm, when consideration of the Estimates of the Health Department was resumed in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Macdonald had used these words to describe the circumstances in which a dental bursary had been granted to a former military defaulter. Mr Macdonald said that he was very disappointed and seriously disturbed at the' reply givqn on the previous night by the Minister of Health, Mr A H. Nordmeyer, when asked about the dental bursary granted to a man who had been a military defaulter. The Minister had replied that no good purpose would be served by pursuing the matter further.

“Arrant Political Jobbery”

A searching inquiry should be made into what was a piece of arrant political jobbery, said Mr Macdonald. The Chairman of Committees called on Mr Macdonald to withdraw the words “arrant political jobbery,” and when Mr Macdonald hesitated about doing so the chairman said: “If you don’t you will be down for the day.” The Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser: Oh. no. If he does not withdraw we will move a motion. Mr Macdonald: I am not prepared to withdraw. It is what I think. Mr Fraser then moved to report progress, and the Speaker returned to the chamber. „ . _ . , Mr W A Bodkm (Oppn., Central Otago) said' that the meaning of a “political job” was the same as that of a “ political appointment.” ‘ Jobbery ” signified nothing more than that the appointment was a political one. When obvious favouritism was shown, latitude must be given to a member to express himself. The member was smarting under a sense of injustice and was fighting for the rights of returned soldiers. He was entitled to describe the whole thing as jobbery. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr W E Parry, said that criticism was one thing and the language used another. „ Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., .Stratford): What other language would you use? The Prime Minister said that he always understood that a member was entitled to the widest possible expression of opinion without overstepping reasonable ground. He suggested that “ jobbery ” was marginal, but it seemed that the use of thb word “arrant” gave it just that extended meaning that made it appear sinister. There was no doubt that the member for Mataura was speaking under considerable stress. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, said that information about the case had been sought from the Minister on the previous night, but he had refused point blank to give it, and that suggested he had something to cover up. No words could express the strong feelings held by the member for Mataura._ The words were justified in the circumstances and he submitted that they were parliamentary. Speaker’s Ruling

After several other members had spoken, the Speaker gave his- ruling. He said that members of the House were entitled to the utmost freedom of speech in debate, but they must comply with the Standing Orders. The words “ political jobbery ” had been frequently used in the House and never ruled out of order, nor had they been in the House of Commons. The question then was, Did the prefix “ arrant ” place them out of order. “Arrant ’’ meant “ thorough ” or “ out and out,” and he ruled it was in order for a member to use the expression used by the member for Mataura in criticising the Government. The Prime Minister said he accepted the ruling without question, but the worfis had changed in their connotation, and he suggested that the Speaker might give them further consideration for guidance in the future.