SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 34

SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

A NEW MINISTER IN TROUBLE. (E"rox£ Oto Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 13. After Mr Hogg's speech yesterday afternoon, the Government benches seemed to be shrouded in gloom and depression, but; subsequently a remark _by another of the new Ministers made the political atmosphere "onGe more electrical. - The trouble arose while Mr ' Malcoln* was referring to ths sxibject of retrenchment. The member for Clutha > was pointing out that it was the errors of Jhe present Administration that had! rendered the ' present retrenchment policy necessary. Sir Harry Atkinson, on tt« other hand, had to carry" out a retrench-•-menit scheme, the necessity for which was ' not of his own making. I At this stage the Hon. T. Mackenz.*« interjected " Partly," to which Mr Massey replied, " You are stating what is incorrect." After a sharp interchange of contradict tions between the two members, . Mr T. Mackenzie blurted out : ■'* Your-- are stating that which you know to be absolutely; false." — (Crie&.of '"dOi-der .'"'"Order P',V Mr Massey (heatedly) : I more, that tKp.e words be taken down. I am not going to take that statement from" him or from • ajiy other member of this House. .. "- -- Mr Speaker : What were the words ? - Mr Massey explain-ed that the hon. member had charged him with making a-state-ment that was absolutely false. '" The Speaker : The^Minisfcer mitst "with-" draw that word. He. kndwufc -\a unparliamentary. - "^ '. '' ' Mr Mackenzie : The ' hon. • gentleman jumps at conclusions: — (Cries "of'"Withdraw ! '' " Withdraw ! ") . "":*". The Speaker: You must obey the ruling of the chair. Mr Mackenzie : I'll do so, but I underetind that a member has the' right to- explain. < The Speaker: You must, comply with the ruling of the chair and explain afterwards. "' Mr Mackenzie : I did not . say he considered it was false. What I meant was that tlvs statement that Sir Harry Atkinson had nothing to do "with deficits- orevioue to his retrenchment scheme was incorrect. The Atkinson Administration; had previously been responsible for deficits. I know that the hon. gentleman would not knowingly have made a statement that was false. I meant that the statement about the previous deficits of the^ Atkinson i Government w?.6 incorrect. , I Mr Speaker: That expression is quit* 1 parliamentary ; the other was not.