APPEAL TO COUNTRY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17080, 29 June 1923, Page 7

APPEAL TO COUNTRY

MR MASSEY’S “ THREAT.” LIVELY DEBATE IN HOUSE. (Special to the Star.”) WELLINGTON. June 23. The. dissolution question was raised in the House this afternoon when there were signs of heat. Mr Af’Combs desiring to put a question for immediate answer, Air Speaker inquired, “To what does it relate 1"” Mr Al'Combs: A challenge (laughter). Fie went on fn view of the fact that the Prime .Minister’s challenge of yesterday was immediately accepted by the , Labour Party does the Prime Afinister intend to stick to his undertaking to immediately go to the country in opposition to the eminently fair proposal that salaries and wages of public servants and wages of workers generally should he restored to the equivalent of their pre-war standard, measured in purchasing power, or does the Prime Minister intend to hack downf” Air Massey; The Prime Alir.istcr docs not back down, and he is not going to back down now to the so-oalled challenge from the leader of the Labour i .Mr Al’Combs : A”ou issued it. .Mr Massey: I ©ailed attention to the fact that- the way we were drifting we wore coming right up against a dissolution. Alembers: i; Oh! Oh!” and interruption. Air Massey: l must ask for your protection. Air Speaker. The Prime .Minister proceeded to declare that if he went to the country ho would not go at the pleasure of Air Holland or anyone else, but as Prime Afinister. It was not a threat, but- he felt that they could not go ou as they were doing. Mr Forbes: "Who is responsible? Air Afassey: Those who arp blocking the business, and the honourable gentleman is one. When it becomes necessary I will go about it in a constitutional way. T shall go to his Excel- ! lency. call his attention to the position, I and ask him to givo me a dissolution. to which, I think, T am properly cni titled on account of the fact that we | a iv not able to get on with business. Air AYilford : You arc not entitled io | it. Mr Afassey: That is for the Governorj General to say. * There had been so much general interruption that Air .Speaker called the House to order and explained thao Alinisters making ministerial statements were not entitled to introduce debatable matter, nor must members in their questions clo so. Afr Massey remarked that in reply to such a question it was difficult to avoid debatable matter, and he was obliged to the member for Lyttelton for the opportunity of straightening out what had been said the day before. Air Al'Combs : "Will you, or will you not Mr Alassey: I have certain responsibility as leader of tho House, and iris my duty to inform members of tho Opposition that if it becomes necessary, and I hope it will not, that I will ask for a dissolution. There ha 3 beer> no dissolution for thirty-five years, and oniy one that I can remember in this House, and 1 want to avoid it now. This is not the time cf the year to go to the country. Mr Al’Combs; Hear, hear. Not for you. Air Alassey (heatedly): T must call tho attention of the chair to the unmannerly interruptions of the member for Lyttelton. That is the sort of thing which causes trouble in this House. The Prime Alinistcr continued that it Would be simple folly to go to the country in winter. It could be avoided by a certain amount of discretion ou tiie part of members, who had been occupying so much time with want of confidence motions. All* Holland raised a point cf order that the Prime Alinistcr was introducing references to other debates, and reminded Air Massey that he had been asked whether he would or would not take a certain course. Afr Speaker: The Prime Alinistcr H entitled to give his reply, but he is not entitled to go as far as he has gone in referring to what has taken -place in this House. As a matter cf fact 1 almost felt inclined to rule the question itself out of order. Mr Alassey: It is an awkward question io answer and intentionally so. ■ (’Laughter). He reminded members i that they would have a further opportunity to discuss grievances on the financial debate. The suggestion was that tho leader cf the Socialistic Labour Party intended to go to the country as Prime Afinister. Mr Holland : That is not so. Air Alassey: He said it hair a dozen times. Ho asked me to go to the Governor-General and resign. I do not stand for that sort of thing. Air Milford asked the Speaker to rufc that the Prime Afinister was wilfully defying the Speaker’s ruling. Afr Speaker: J think the Prime Minister is out of order, and that tho leader of the Opposition is also out of order in his suggestion of wilful defiance, which is a reflection on the chair. The Prime Alinistcr has sufficiently replied to the question, and be must reserve further remarks until the debate lias resumed. Air Alassey: I aiu quite satisfied.