MEMBERS AND THE STRIKE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 7

MEMBERS AND THE STRIKE

PERTJNEKT QUESTIONS. ALLEGED insulting language. 1 [Faou Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, November 12. Among tho strike questions answered, by the Gcvei'juueut to-day >vas one i

from Mr Escott, of Pahiatua, who wished to know whether any complaints had reached tho Government to the effect that a member of tho Houso _of Representatives had used insulting language towards Sergeant-Major .Young, of F Squadron, on tho afternoon of November 5, and if so, docs tho Government intend to take any action in tho matter. The Prime Minister replied: "No direct complaint has reached the Justice Department, but if tho honourable gentleman will supply particulars of tho occurrence the matter will be investigated." THE ARBITRATION UNION. j A LEGISLATOR'S ACTIVITY. | Mr Robertson, Labour member for Otaki, placed on the order paper a statement that a member of Parliament was engaged on the night of Wednesday, November 5, recruiting free labourers from the rank 6 of the special mounted constables at Mount Cook barracks, and those men have been enrolled, brought here, and maintained at tho Government's , expense. Mr R-obertson asked if tho Government could justify its alleged action in enrolling, transporting and maintaining men as free labourers, at the cost of the whole of the taxpayers, for the purpose of assisting the shipping monopoly to smash a workers' organisation. The Hon W. F. Massey replied: " The statement that the Government has enrolled, transported and maintained mon a& free labourers at the cost of the taxpayers is not correct, aud should not have been made, even by way of implication." NO "SPECIAL" PCFLICE UNION. " No member of the Government has taken any part in the organisation or registration of a union composed of special police or others," stated tho Minister of Justice in reply to a question on the subject from Mr Paji.... Mr "Webb, in commenting on the ministerial reply, declared that it was a quibble, as at least two supporters of the Government addressed . the " specials " at Mount Cook barracks, advising them to join an organisation with their men. NOT UNDER MILITARY COMMAND. The Hon -A."' E. Herdmaii informed Mr Robertson to-day that there are no staff officers of the Territorial forces in command of special constables in Wellington. The Government has no information as to the-number of Territorials whoso services have been accepted as' special constables. COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. WHY NOT FOR FARMERS? 1 Mr Robertson asked:—"Seeing the dogged determination that is characterising the effort now being made to coerce _ the waterside workers of the dominion to come under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, will the Government bring in a Bill to compel all unions to come under that Act, including the farm labourers and agricultural workers? M The Hon W. F .Massey replied: "If there is a genuine desire on the part of the -workers of the dominion that all unions' be brought under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act I shall be pleased to give the House an opportunity of considering the proposal by introducing legislation with that object in view. THE TREGEAR INCIDENT. HOT WORDS IN THE HOUSE/ HIS BELIEF AND UNBELIEF. COUNTRY MEMBER'S WARNING. • [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, November 12. A brush occurred in the House this afternoon between the Labour members and a section of the 1 country supporters of the Government respecting the language reported to have been used by Mr E. Tregear on Wednesday last in addressing a meeting. The published reports contained the words, "Outcast scum of the country." as

having been used by Mr Tregear respecting some of the special constables, but he denied the accuracy of this, 6tating that he had said "outcasts come-from the country." On this explanation hiuged an argument of .some heat.

Mr Webb deprecated, any attempt to throw doubt on Mr Tregear's good faith in his explanation, contending that the gentleman in question had served this country with distinction. He.had been one of the worthiest pioneers in - the cause of the worker.

Mr Okey, who was responsible for the question oil the subject, retorted that Mr Tregear, a man who was in receipt of a (Jivil Service pension, had cast a deliberate ipsult on countrymen by his remarks. Personally lie regarded the explanation as a paltry excuse and believed the words "outcast scum " were used, despite the denial. Mr Nosworthy also expressed his opinion respecting Mr Tregear in emphatic terms, exclaiming that his action could only oome from one who was a " political skunk." This epithet raised a protest from the member for Grey, whoso indignation was, however, greeted with derision by a number of Government supporters.

Mr Robertson then took the Reform members to task for doubting the word of a gentleman whose past should be warranty for his word) and who had been decorated by his Majesty for services to the Empire. '' Mr Tregear received . a decoration for -services actually done, and won honour which these critics who have been talking such piffle could not win if they lived to tho age of Methuselah," said tho member for Otaki, who also scathingly referred to a question put by Mr Escott regarding some insulting language alleged to have been used by a member of Parliament to an officer of the "special constable" corps on Wednesday of last week. " The honourable member who put this question on the order paper praters of protecting members and* of upholding the dignity of Parliament," said Mr Robertson, adding: "Well, Parliament would indeed be a sorry place if it depended for its dignity and protection on such men as tho member for Pah-iatua." The member for Fiiopont uext ros«

and somewhat solemnly warned honourable members who made extreme statements that they were not going to bo allowed to pa:ss unchallenged. t "We members from tlio country object to hear our friends, and in somo cases our relatives, termed ' bushrangers from tho country,' " snid Mr AVilkinson, to which tho member.for Groy cried, "So they aro, somo of them." Mr Pearco gavo notice to ask tho Government if it would take stops to have the name of 13. Tregear removed from tho list of Justices of tho Peace in view of tho remarks he had made concerning the special constables who had come into Wellington from country districts.