“CORNERED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16359, 23 February 1921, Page 8

“CORNERED.”

MINISTERS AND PROGRESS LEAGUE. t DR THACKER INDIGNANT. BREEZE AT M.P.’S MEETING A remark bv Dr Thaelter caused a breeze at to-day’s meeting of the <g™mittee of Canterbury members ot t arLament. . . , , , T , fop Discussing the visit made by Mr MasBev to the railway yards, Dr Thacker said that members of Parliament had been ignored by the Prime Minister and by the Progress league. “ There m too much league and not enough us. Mr E. J. Howard: Too much league and not enough progress. D- Thacker: I protest against the fact that recently when tho Prime Minister came to Christchurch and tho Minister of Public Works they were cornered by the Progress League and orivato investigation committees 01 whatever they are. We, as members of Parliament, could hardly get any access to Ministers at all It was only bj making a bio- endeavour yesterday that I got in touch with the Minister, of Public Works. I had to go out into the country to get him for an h< > ■ He had his programme full of I rogre. lA \f r U V. At Isitt: Ministers do not inform us nowadays when they are passin Mr h D US G: Sullivan : I have received notification from every Minister. Mr E. J. Howard: So have I. % i eceived^notitication ° n So» P o! XSmhh : C I Minister assumes that the Progress League mikes arrangements in conjunction With members of Parliament. Mr D. Jones: I think that -s«Vy misunderstanding is due to laxity oil the part of individual members. Mr Isitt (sharply) : How s that. Mr Jones: People knew that the Prime Minister was coming, and when he was due. , , Dr Thacker : What the honourable member for Ivaiapoi has been saying is incorrect. 1 asked the Prime Minister to investigate goods handling facilities with me, and ho said that his time was all occupied. If that is not. a distinct case of broach of promise, 1 do not know what is. V\ hy should members of Parliament have been ignored in this recent visit to the new shedsF Mr Isitt said he felt sure no discourtesy had been intended by Mr Massey Hon C. A. C. Hardy: If members are going to fight over the why and wherefore of the Prime Minister’s visit, it is time some of us left. Tho statements made by Dr Thacker may not bo altogether correct, but we have no opportunity of disproving them. Me don’t want the opportunity. If Dr Thacker, as Mayor of Christchurch, has been left behind by the Progress League, then the matter concerns him alone. Wo are here as a non-political body, and we should take care that we remain so. Mr Isitt : I think it is due to a misunderstanding. There was a Tack somewhere in connection with the Prime Minister’s visit. Tho same thing has occurred before. Mr Sullivan: 1 have always received notification. Perhaps Ministers thought that in notifying me they were notifying me as secretary of this committee- _ , , - Hon G. J- Smith: Perhaps that is tho explanation. Dr Thacker: If we don’t make a fu*i about this business the country wiu continue to override the city. Tt looks us if the old Conservative element Hon C. A. C. Hardy: 1 object to this sort of thing, Mr Chairman. Mr Isitt: Don’t be too sensitive. It.was decided that the matter should l>o left in the hands of the chairman (Mr Isitt) and Mr Sullivan, to arrange with Ministers for notifications of future visits.