PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY S BUSINESS QUESTION OF PRIVILEGES MUNITION TO BE GIVEN AIR. LYE’S RECENT SPEECH [ Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, Aug. 19. The report of the Committee of Privilege concerning the letter written by Messrs Bond and Bond, of Auckland, to Mr Lye, and the advertisement published in th« New Zealand Herald, was considered by the House af Representatives this afternoon. Hon. G. W. Forbes moved that in view of the Select Committee’s report, no further action should be taken. H»* would also move in accordance vith the committee’s recommendation that the question of more clearly defining the rules and practices relating to privileges should be referred to the Standing Orders Committee for a report. It was apparent that even members of Parliament were somewhat hazy as to what actually constituted a breach of privilege, and to the general public the position must be even more obscure. Mr R. A. Wright said he was glad that the position was to be cleared up. It was a little difficult for any firm :o know what steps to take in endeavouring to reply to an attack made upon its activities by a member speaking in the House of Representative*. He thought that everybody who had seen the circular regarding which mention had been made had had a clear idea what firm was concerned. He hoped the Standing Orders Committee would be able to arrive at some understanding which would help firms and newspapers to understand what actually ecnstintes a breach of privilege. “Intemperate’* Criticism. Mr W. E. Barnard submitted that it had been made quite clear from the evidence given before the committee that thousands of Auckland people would realise that the firm to which Mr Lye had referred was Bond and Bond. He considered that Mr Lye’s •ritieism of the system had been somewhat intemperate, and the actions of Messrs Bond and Bond, in replying, had also been intemperate. The whole matter was unfortunate, and he thought that the Prime Minister’s motion met the case very well. Mr A. Harris said he was not at all sure that criticism such as that which had been made by Mr Lye did not call for some reply. Hp regretted that the question of a breach of privilege had been brought forward. He personally would have expected some reply if he had made a similar attack. Mr Lye said he had not attacked any particular firm or person. He had made a definite attack upon the system with which Messrs Bond and Bond had subsequentlv identified themselves by publishing the advertisement. That was their own responsibility. He had had no other purpose in bringing *h n matter before the House than that of protecting thp rights and privileges of members. and ho was quite satisfied with the expressions of regret that had Peen made. Mr J. O’Brien suggested that Messrs Bond and Bond and the New Zealand Herald should, in addition to apologising the House, have also apologised personally to Mr Lye. Entitled to a Defence. Mr D. Jones said he held that the firm attacked was quite entitled to defend itself, and could issue a challenge to Mr Lye if it liked. He was of opinion that the newspaper was justi--sed in publishing the advertisement. The Leader of the Labour Party 'Mr H. Holland) said he believed that the newspaper should not be exempt from the criticism accorded the firm, and he stressed the need for a clear definition of privilege. Mr P. Fraser said he was of opinion that the matter had been settb d sat isfactorily. He considered that once Mr Lye had drawn attention it had become an affair of the House. Any member should be prepared in 99 cases out of 109 to repeat outside the Hous'* any statement he had made within it. It was possible that one occasion in 100 would arise when it would be perfectly justifiable, and in the pubh•• interests, for a member to get up and make a statement that could not be made outside. Mr T. W. McDonald contended th it Mr Lye had boon accused by the advertisement of making statements he had never made. He hoped the House would insist on an apologv ro Mr Lye as well as tn the House. Mr J. A. Young submitted that who.i 1 member made a speech on a public question he should not resent criticism from outside. Motion Adopted. After other members had spoken, the Prime Minister’s motion was adopter!, also the motion referring the question of the definition of privilege to the Standing Orders Committee. MEMBERS’ QUESTIONS BE PLIES BY MINISTERS. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON. Aug. 19. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Painters and Decorators Health Protection Bill, the Painters and Decorators Registration Bill and the Honey Local Marketing Bill promoted by Mr Jordan were read a second time nro forma. The two first were referred to the Local Bills L’omtn’ttoe and the last-named to the Industries and Commerce Committee. The Wanganui Church Acre Amendment Bi’l (Mr Veitch) was read a third rime and passed. Petitions were received praying for amendments to the Trading Coupons Bill and were referred ro tne Industries and Commerce Committee. Replying to Mr Barnard. Hon. A. JStallworthy said he was endeavouring to make some arrangement whereby gifts of coal for the poor and distressed would be carried on the railways at e reduced rates. Mr Munns asked the Postmaster-Gen-eral (Hon. J. B. Donald) whether he

would take steps to prevent correspondence to Ireland concerning the Limerick sweepstake being sent through the post, remarking that there appeared to be no guarantee of the bona fides of this sweep. Mr Donald said that steps already had been taken to prevent such correspondence passing through the post.

Mr Sullivan asked the Minister of Railways whether there was any truth in the humour that the Railways Board intended to reduce the hours of work of railwaymen and their wages pro rata, and if so was that not a contradiction of the statement previously made by the Minister to the effect that the Railways Board would not have the power to deal with the wages and conditions of the men. Hon. W. A. Veitch said he had not had time to inquire into the question and would give an answer to-morrow.