DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 19960, 13 December 1913, Page 5

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S ATTI-

TUDE

"NO NEED FOR THE MOU-NTED

SPECIALS."

LIVELY INTERCHANGES

(iiy Telegraph.) (From ou.r Parliamentary Representa-

tive.)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. As was only to be expected, the debate on i}\g Labour Disputes Investigation Bill, which was opened in the House of Representatives-"this afternoon, was responsible for a lively intercliauge of accusations and counter-accusations between the rival narties.

■Sir Joseph Ward, made a speech that was chiefly remarkable for his attack <>n the action of the Government in itrnfgiug in the mounted constables from the country. Ho wanted to know why the-official police had not been iised, and amidst laughter from the Government benches he> declared that if the Government had "done the right thing" there would have been no need to bring in '.he mounted constables from the country, although the services of the foot s|v.rials might have boon necessary. Ho i>.cimittpji, however, that ''the mounted coirr-LaVes are a fine body of men. r.nd they die! good work when they were in \Vo: hr>gton." This statement provoked further laughter.

The Hon. A. L. Herdman (Minister foj- Justice), in his reply to Sir Joseph Ward pointed out how impossible it was for an ordrinary police force of about 80 rneu.. pven when assisted by such ordinary reinforcements as were available, to-cope with a mob of twelve or

thirteen hundred "howling human beings " Mi- Herdman dealt in a trenchant manner with the tactics of the leadors of the Federation, of Labour. '/What is the use," he asked, "of making compacts with people who-say 'To nell with agreements' "? He also referred to the statement that the Federation of Labour as affiliated with the International Secretariat at Berlin.

Mr Massey (Laughter.)

Made in Germany!

Mr Russell, who followed Mr Herd:rian. Spoke with, trc-mendous violence. He os>.seitcd that he had been told thai when tilt Prime Minister was presiding over tlie conference in Wellington betvvteu the employers and the representative oi the strikers, he showed partiality towards the employers. Mi: Miaa-ey .(heatedly): That is a falsehood.

This expression was objected to, but Mr ila^sey pointed out that it was not applied to Mr Russell, but to the state* uient that hud been "made to the latwr.

Mr Russell then asserted that when the two parties o?me to a deadlock Mr. Massey said ftlt is no use any staying here," and walked out of the room. Mr ilVio^sey: Thai, also is a falsehood.

Tint remark led to another appeal to lh<? breaker, who asked members gene rally to be mor« moderate in their lan-; guage. Mr. Russell asked whether it was not a tf act Tthtai^vithin>two minutes after th>j 5-i-e.fiTTGßOßW^rves: ;to£o .thfe ißmiployVSrS had•'d'tatedii±hritntfaey/'insrst^il»jori- regis-' t ration, ■■■japt&en rth<i:iArbit»atiou'' fiiet; f'ihe room' ViCsb'Smpiy-ji'. U'n-- .»■>•!;:;■:>•! rl-xu/r t" ■Mr. Masseyr:.:! hvas >tbe last to leave tut- room.

Mr Russell: Was not the room empt\ in iw> minutes?

Mr Massey: It may have been., in ii*'b minutes.

Mr Kussell also brought trouble on himself by referring to. the Prime Minis" er a?id also the Minister for Public "Works an "the paid hirelings of a Consc'vstive crowd." He wa^ required to withdraw it.

Mr Webb: Ho should have said the "lroiithpieees."

Mr (Massey: I demand that that expression lie withdrawn ,too. Mr Webb accordingly withdrew the exyres-sion

The Speaker reproved members for the unseemly character of the interjections on both sides of the House, and th© tone of the debate, which, was quite electrical for a few minutes, then quietened down considerably.