MR POLSON AND THE BILL

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 14

MR POLSON AND THE BILL

MR COATES DISCUSSES HIS ATTITUDE ' GOVERNMENT'S TASK SAID TO BE MAD® HARDER [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 6. An outspoken attack on Mr W. J. Poison for the manner in which he has opposed the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Bill was made in the House of Representatives to-night by the Minister for Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates.

After objection had been expressed by Mr Poison to the clause in the bill conferring certain rating exemptions on the corporation, Mr Coates rose and asked: "Is the member for Stratford opposed to the bill?" Mr Poison: In its present form. Mr Coates: He voted in a flimsy way for the second reading, but on almost every decision since he has voted against clauses. It is no good for him to play fast and loose like that. He has taken every opportunity in the House and outside to try to prevent the bill from going through, and yet he pretends to be a friend. It is a peculiar attitude. He says the ratepayers will be worse off because of this clause. That is not correct. This clause leaves the position as it is now, in spite ot everything that has been said. As a nistter of fact, the position is, as I figure it out, that in five years all mortgages transferred to the corporation, rural or urban, will be paying rates. The courts have distinctly stated that the Crown is not liable for rates. Mr Poison: I say the Crown is morally responsible for rates. It should recognise that fact, and it should do so here and now.

"You Have Done All You Caai- " Mr Coates: It suits you politically to say that. You run like a hare this way and that, all round the mulberry bush. As soon as there is a change of wind you are off iti another direction. You have done all you can to prevent the Government from getting this bill through, and .if the bill is a success, as we hope it will be, you will be crying from the house tops, "That's something I helped to do anyway."

Mr Poison: You must not judge me on your own standards. Mr Coates: If I did you would not stand up! Mr Poison: I will stand up to you. Mr Coates: You will, every time. Mr Poison: I challenge you—

Mr Coates: You have challenged me on nearly every platform already. Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill): He will still be welcome at the caucus. Mr Coates: Personally, I think he is an awfully nice man. but he has not lost any opportunity to make it difficult for the Government to pass this bill. Mr Poison: I am against the principle of the bill. Mr Coates: You voted for the second reading, showing that you approved the principle. Mr Poison: I made my position about that clear. Mr A. M. Samuel (Ind„ Thames): Is this a private fight or can anyone join in? Mr Coates: I just want to say I am amazed at the member for Stratford. He wants us to take his advice, and yet he opposes us at every step. Mr Poison's Rejoinder "The Minister has made a violent attack on me," said Mr Poison, rising to reply. "He says that I have been inconsistent, because I voted for the second reading and then opposed many of the clause, in committee. 1 stated some time ago that I would oppose certain clauses in Ihe bill, but would not deny it a second reading, in order that I might be able to assist in introducing certain amendments. That was not possible, however, because the Minister drove the clauses through, although many members, including Government members, were definitely opposed to some of them. I hove played the game with the Government over this bill. I went to the Prime Minister before the bill was introduced and told him that I could not support the principle of shareholder control. Nevertheless, knowing that I had certain convictions, and was standing" by them, Mr Coates has made this attack, intendnig to mislead the House and the people. "I am doing what I consider my duty to the farmers and the people I represent. I have taken my stand, and I am surprised at the statements made by the Minister tonight." Mr Samuel Tells a Story Mr Samuel said he thought the Minister had been "a bit rough" on Mr Poison. Although the member for Stratford was quite capable of looking after himself, the Minister's statements had not been altogether fair, because members had every right to vote for the second reading, while retaining hope of securing useful amendments in the committee stage. "I remember," added Mr Samuel, "when I was on the river Plate seeing a parrot looking in a glass and calling himself a liar." The chairman: What is the suggestion? Mr Samuel: The only suggestion is that it was extremely funny, but of course the parrot didn't know. The chairman asked Mr Samuel to keep to the clause under discussion and not to refer to statements of the Minister or of Mr Poison's reply. local bodies; but I agree that it relates more to rural than local districts. The Minister again emphasised that the bill before the House should not be taken as an excuse for a decision on the broad policy question of whether the Crown should pay rates. Result of the Voting The clause was put to the vote tonight, and retained by 37 votes to 31. The division list is as follows: AYES Ansell Holland Bitchencr Holyoake Bodkin Kyle Broadfoot Linklater Burnett Lye Campbell McLeod Clinkard McSkimming Coates Macmillan Cobbe Macpherson Connolly J. N. Massey Dickie Murdoch Endean Reid Field Smith Forbes Downie Stewart Hamilton Stuart Hargest Te Tomo Hawke Williams Healy Young Henarc NOES. Armstrong W. Nash Atmore O'Brien Barnard Parry Carr Poison Coleman Richards Fraser Rushworth Howard Samuel Jones Savage Jordan Schramm Jull Semple Langstone Sullivan Lee Veitch McDougall Webb McKeen Wilkinson Mason Wright Munro Pairs For the Clause Ransom Harris Ngata de la Perrcllc Against the Clause Siallworthy Chapman Tiritakcne W. W. Massey