“STARVATION RATES!”

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18972, 1 December 1933, Page 2

“STARVATION RATES!”

RELIEF WORKERS’ WAGES. Speaker Checks M.P* BOARD’S POLICY ATTACKED. LABOUR MEMBER’S THREAT. (By Telegrapn—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. Strong criticism of the reduction in the rates of relief pay brought Mr. J. O’Brien (Labour —Westland) into conliict with the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham, in the House of ( Representatives last evening. >, The Labour Party, by speaking on a formal motion to enable the Estimates to be discussed, initiated a debate on the Unemployment Board’s policy, particularly in reference to wages. Threat to Leave House. Mr. O’Brien said in Westland re-ductions-had -in -some -cases -amounted to as much as 53 per cent. “Unless these conditions are altered,” he.said, “I am going to take steps that may compel me to leave this House, but I would rather be out of this House than remain in it and see rates of relief pay like these continuing to operate.” Continuing, Mr. O’Brien said it was scandalous that men should be asked, to accept starvation rates. _ Mr. Speaker: You must not employ that term. Mr. ‘ O’Brien: I am applying it to those who fix these rates of pay— I don’t care where they come from, Mr. Speaker: Order! I must remind you that those words must not be applied to any member of this House. Mr. O’Brien: I just feel that way on the matter— '• Mr. Speaker: Order! “Stick to Your Guns.” Mr. R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East): Stick to your guns^ Mr. O’Brien: I wish to make it perfectly clear that these are starvation rates. If a member of the House is responsible for them I am not withdrawing my words. Mr. Speaker: Will you clear up the point as to whether you are referring to a member of tho House? Mr. O’Brien: I am not referring to. any member of the House in particular. Mr. Speaker: If you are applying those remarks to any member of the House you must withdraw them. Mr. O’Brien: I don’t feel like withdrawing, sir. Mr. Speaker: I must ask you to withdraw. I know you are speaking with great personal feeling, but the rules of the House forbid that term to be applied • to ; any member, Withdraws—“ But so Angry.” Mr. O’Brien: I don’t wish to disobey your ruling, sir. I don’t wish to attribute these conditions to any member of the Government, but I am so angry— Mr. Speaker: I think you had better withdraw any suggestion that you are referring to any member of the House. Mr. O’Brien: I am not applying these words to any particular member. Mr. Speaker: Or to any member? Mr. O’Brien: Yes, I will say that. Labour members continuing to discuss unemployment until , the time arrived for the adjournment of the House at midnight, Mr, Speaker explained that under the Standing Orders the House would go into Committee, to deal with Estimates to-morrow without the usual formal motion being submitted to the House. It would not be possible to resume the debate on the question.