MEMBER REBUKED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19700, 4 August 1938, Page 15

MEMBER REBUKED

PUBLICATION OF LETTER MINISTER CRITICISED Ml.’. 11 AIK JEST’S ACTION' SPEAKER'S WA If NINO (Pit Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this tiny. A letter by Mr. J. 11. I largest (Nat. Awarua) which had been published one of the local newspapers, dealing with the practice of asking urgen questions in the Mouse, was drawn al tention to by the Speaker, the Hon. W E. Barnard, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The Speaker staled he was sure that such a practice would be regarded at undesirable, and might easily involve a breach of privileges of tho House. Iu the course of the letter it was suggested, said Mr. Barnard, that unfair tactics were employed by a Minister and a member of the House, and he pointed out that the letter might even be construed as a reflection on the Speaker himself. ' “'Assuming, however, that the honourable member had no intention of committing any such breach," said Mr. Barnard, "I would point out that :t any member considers that the standing orders are capable of abuse, his proper course is to bring the matter up in the House. He has the right and the opportunity of doing this —a right and opportunity not available to anyone outside this House. While I hesitate to declare that the publication of the letter in question constitutes .1 breach of privilege. I am convinced that such publication is an impropriety the like of which I hope will not recur." S Mr. Hargest Explains j When the House resumed in the evening, Mr. Hargest made a persona! explanation. He said that if he had been guilty of impropriety he was sorry, but he bowed to the Speaker’s ruling. He wished to make it quite plain that he did not desire to question the Hon. Speaker’s fairness or impartiality, but he believed the Minister concerned and the member for Invercargill had been in collusion over an urgent question which referred to contracts for Government houses in Invercargill. This, he had believed, had put him in the wrong, and he also believed that he would have no right of reply in the House, so he had placed the matter before the public in the manner he had. Collusion Denied The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. LNash. also made a personal explanation. He said the letter in the paper had made a definite charge that he had been in collusion with the member for Invercargill. In his explanation that night, Mr. Hargest had stated that he "believed” there had been collusion, said Mr. Nash. lhe statement was untrue, added Mr. Nash. He had not seen the member’s question until five minutes before tne House met, and had not seen the member for Invercargill for a toi Inight Ought not Mr. Hargest to apologise asked Mr. Nash. s The Speaker: Order! Mr. H. G. Dickie (Nat., Patea): Ought not you to apologise? The Speaker: Order! Order!