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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17957, 8 December 1932, Page 7

COST TO GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE (Purlianieinury Keporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The vote in the police estimates of an additional ij 6so towards expenses in suppressing street riots and disorder was caustically received by Labor members in tlie House last, night. Mr. 11, T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch E.) critically referred to a leading police official whom he, accused of making a speech in Napier following the Christchurch tramway trouble, which, in his opinion, was • directly provocative. He wondered what would happen to a policeman who'publicly expressed sympathy with strikers, lie declared that the Minister of Public Works was directly responsible for the Wellington trouble by the lackadaisical way in which he had met a deputation of unemployed. The Minister of Justice was quite well aware that the trouble was simmering for an hour, due entirely to his colleague’s refusal to make a definite statement to the deputation. Mr. 11. Semple (Lab., Wellington E.): It was cowardly to keep these men waiting for hours in the cold during the winter time.

The Bt, Hon. J. G. Coales stated that he told the deputation to tell the men to go back to work. He was not going\ to be bullied by holding processions, and the sooner the unemployed got that into their minds the better.

Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab.. Grey Lynn) jocularly asked if the batons used were of New Zealand timber, as New Zealanders bad a right to be bit with their own wood.

Mr. Coates: I think you are right, 'they should be clubbed with New Zea-land-made batons if they are to be clubbed.

Mr. Lee: If members of tbe Reform Party were clubbed it would be :i case of local jirown timber against local grown timber. (Laughter.) The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Justice, when asked if the vote was in anticipation of further trouble, replied, “Of course not.” The vote was finally approved.