RIGHT OF REPLY DEMANDED

Southland Times, Issue 23374, 4 December 1937, Page 6

RIGHT OF REPLY DEMANDED

Labour Members And Opposition Attacks

SPEAKER ACCUSED OF REPRESSION PRIME MINISTER ASKS FOR “SHOW-DOWN” (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 3. A suggestion by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that Government members were not being permitted by the Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) to reply to accusations made by members of the Opposition, led to another interesting scene in the House of Representatives today. The incident arose when Mr C. L. Hunter (Lab , Manawatu), during the second reading debate on the Primary Products Marketing Amendment Bill, quoted Mr F. W. Doidge as having stated that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat., Kaipara), was the leader of Soviet rule in New Zealand.

In opening his speech, Mr Hunter said that Mr Coates and other Opposition members had described the Bill as communistic. It was interesting to read the opinion of a certain gentleman who had declared: “Parliament has been robbed of its rights and privileges. In New Zealand we are under Soviet rule and Mr Coates is the leader.” Government members: Who said that? Mr Hunter: Mr Doidge.

Mr Speaker called Mr Hunter to order and asked him to confine himself to the Bill. The Prime Minister rose to a point of order. “We have been listening to a tirade from the Opposition benches about the communistic attitude of the Government.” Mr Savage said. “I would like to know whether members on the Government side of the House are entitled to some reply. It seems to be a curious state of affairs if Russia can be quoted as being on all fours with the Government, and we are not entitled to make a reply.” The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat., Hurunui) contended that if a member considered that a measure came under a certain philosophy he was entitled to say so. The Prime Minister: But I want the right of reply.

Mr Forbes: There has been no restriction.

The Prime Minister: There is a restriction now. Mr Hunter was stopped and we are going to have a show-down before we go on with this. Mr Speaker: I would ask the Prime Minister to restrain himself. The Prime Minister: That is all right, Mr Speaker. I want something definite about this. MR SPEAKER’S RULING Following a legal debate, in which Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago), Mr F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East), the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) and the Rev. C. L. Carr (Lab., Timaru) took part, Mr Speaker gave his ruling. “I understand the point of order to be that statements have been permitted on Communism and Moscow and that full right of reply should therefore be permitted,” said Mr Speaker. “It is true that these subjects have been introduced by Opposition speakers, but such references were, with one or two exceptions, related to the Bill. The honourable member for Manawatu was proceeding to state the contents of what appeared to be a newspaper clipping to the effect that the right honourable member for Kaipara was head of the Soviet and gave as authority for the statement a Mr Doidge. I ruled out the honourable member’s reference for the reason that it did not appear to be a reply to the statements made in the course of the debate.

“It is my duty as Speaker to try to apply’ to the conduct of debate settled rules and the practice of the House. I can scarcely hope that on every occasion all members will agree with my rulings, but the practice of Parliament provides that such rulings shall stand and be respected unless and until formally reversed by the House.”