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Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 9 March 1933, Page 2

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IaUWHNT IN HOUSE MINISTER AND MEMBER A / An unpleasant incident occurred in the House of Representatives early yesterday morning when Mr. R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East) described the Government as “a gang of political highwaymen.” and bluntly declared that he would not withdraw the words. Mr. Semple was discussing the Finance Bill, and made the point that fresh impositions were being placed on poorly-paid nurses, whereas the State had not curtailed the amounts paid to Public Servants who had retired on large superannuation allowances. “A Government that will do that sort of thing is nothing short of a gang of political highwaymen,” declared Mr. Semple. Mr. S. G. Smith, who was deputising for the Speaker, asked Mr. Semple to withdraw the expression. Mr. Semple: 1 will not withdraw. Not a word of it. Mr. Smith: The term is quite unparliamentary. I ask you to withdraw it. Mr. Semple: I refuse definitely to withdraw. M. Smith: Then 1 have no other option . . . Mr. Semple: Then you can deal with me as you like. Voices: Oh, withdraw. Mr. Semple: Not on your life 1 won’t. Mr. Coates Insists Mr. Smith: The words were distinctly unparliamentary. You must obey the Chair. lam sure you will put it in another way. Mr. Semple: I will not withdraw. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: Sir, I suggest you cannot let that go. The words were certainly unparliamentary, and I suggest that action be taken. Mr. Smith read Standing Order 180, which provides that no member shall use offensive or unbecoming words with reference to any other member of the House. “I think the honourable gentleman’s words are unbecoming,” he said. Mr. Semple: With all respect to you, Sir, I cannot understand the Government excusing people from their legitimate share of taxation and then imposing taxes on defenceless women and children. Mr. Smith: If you will put it that way, then, I think the words will be inorder. The Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young: 1 think Mr. Semple ought to withdraw the other expression. Mr. Smith: I understand he has withdrawn. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon), to Mr. Young: You ought to accept Mr. Speaker's ruling. Mr. Semple said that in deference to the Chair he would withdraw, and the incident closed. Minister Attacked Later in the morning, when the House was in committee on the clause which provides for the taxation of trackless trolley omnibuses, there was a heated passage between Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East) and the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in which the Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith, was again involved. Mr. Armstrong protested loudly and violently against this taxation measure, but several of his allegations were dismissed by the Minister as “nonsense” and “incorrect.” “Now the Minister offers to let the tax down a bit,” continued Mr. Armstrong. “It's robbery whether he makes it £4O or £l4O. He’ll be putting a tax on perambulators next. I know the Christchurch Tramways Board is a wealthy corporation, and not very long ago the Minister supported it when it refused to pay award wages.” Mr. Smith called Mr. Armstrong to order, but he shouted out at the top of his voice: “The Minister is a >twicer.’ ” The Minister and Mr. Armstrong exchanged interjections, but Mr. Smith evidently took no notice of Mr. Armstrong’s breach, for his next action was to turn on Mr. Coates and tell him that he would be called to order unless he stopped interjecting. “Well, I rise to a point of order,” said Mr. Coates with some heat. “I am not going to be called a ‘twicer’ by anyone in this House.” Mr. Smith then called upon Mr. Armstrong to withdraw the word. < Mr. Armstrong: The Minister is a shifter. Mr. Smith: The honourable mem-

her must withdraw that. Mr. Armstrong: Well, I’ll say that the Minister would say anything to justify anything.—“ Dominion.”