HOT WORDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10535, 9 August 1912, Page 4

HOT WORDS.

LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

HON P„. M'KENZIE AND HIS VOTE. [From Our Coruksponbsnt.j WELLINGTON, August 7. Discussion of the Elective Executive system, centring around Mr Laurensen's Bill, involved references to the operation of the party system in New Zealand of late, the debate at one moment to-night taking a purple hue, so strong was the personal criticism. The Hon R. M'Kenzie assured the House that he would not deal with past history, but he strayed from his purpose by declaring, apropos of the Mackenzie Ministry, "They got there by tho support of rail-sitters and opportunists."

Next 011 his feefc was a member of the defeated Ministry, Mr G. W. Russell, who talked of the way in which the elective executive system would prevent anyone from bursting into a Ministry simply upon shc-er brass and impudence. ■' What led to the downfall of the Ward Ministry?" asked Mr Russell. "It was," ho continued, " because mainly there were persons in that Ministry who did not realise thoir social responsibilty and who did not set an example, so far as sobriety was concerned, that every man who occupied the high position of a Minister of the Crown should bo expected to carry out."

Mr Payne: Were they rail-sitters or opportunists ? Mr Russell: Yes. Tho greatest railsiiter, who poured down cn them all the concentrated venom of a wicked heart, and then, when tho voto was taken, ran away like a cur. Mr Speaker called on the member for Avon to withdraw tho expression "cur," and this was immediately done by Mr Russell, who went on to declare that the Hon R. M'lvenzie was the only man in Parliament who was a thorough wobbler and rail-sitter, that lie ran away from the House and did not record lr>, voto on the question of whether tho Government should be condemn:d or not, or should be rerncved from offioo or not. Men supported tho Ministry of which the Hon R. M'Xenzio was a member, overlooking his own unfitness. "If over by an unfortunate dispensation of Providence such a man as that got into r. Ministry." concluded tho speaker, " under this Bill. 5 without wrecking the Ministry, such an honourable member would be wiped out by the almost unanimous opinion of the Honso of 11 epresen tatives.''

The Hon 11. M'Kenzie, instantly rising to a point of order, said that the previous speaker formed the first "cave" in tho Liberal Party, and was the greatest rail-sitter in the House.

Mr Speaker: That is not a misrepresentation which you are'dealins; with. The Hon It. M'Kensie: We or.me into tho House on the ssme day, and on three different occasions between then and now he has been kicked out.

Mr Snoakar: The honourable gentleiii?;! rrill please resume his sea!:. The Ron R. M'Kenzie replied that lso wished to explain that lie walked out as Mr Russell had done on ninny occasions. Ke stat?d distinctly at tho timo that he h"d no interest whatever in. the fate of the Government then on th>3 Treasury beuches. "Probably the member for Avon being one of influenced mo in my opinion," he remarked amid Government laughter. He wished to lilt the Ronso know that he was offered a nositinn in tho Mackenzie Mitiirtrv, but refused it, mid as for Mr RuT.?e!l's condemnation, lie was too well known in the country for his remarks to have any effect. " I must protest ajrninrvt seme, of the speeches we have heard in the flense to-day," remarked- Mr W. A. Veitch, who spoke a little later. Proceeding, he urged that members should preserve the dirrnitv of the P.-irlisment of Nov/ Zealand, adding that it would have been much better if some of the speeches delivered during tho evening had not been delivered.