A MINISTER ANNOYED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 7

A MINISTER ANNOYED.

TEE SPEAKER AND MR. ■'. lI'KENZIE, ■■■ The presentation of the Public Works Statement in the Houso last night was marked by a rather curious incident. A "debate on a Bill was proceeding when the Speaker announced a message from his Excellency the- Governor, The Prime Minister. said - that the ' Minister for. Public Works wished to lay the Public Works Statement on.the table:' - : ... The-Speaker ruled that the Message must take precedence, and ho . then road it. It comprised the headings of the Public Works Estimates; and asked the House to make ; provision accord- ". ingly. ■~. . . The Hon..R. M'Kenzie-(Minister for '": Public Works):'. Yon have seen fit, shy . to alter, the ;whole procedure. I don't Bee the necessity- of laying the Public .Works Statement on the-table now at all, as used to be tho custom.' ; . Mr. Speaker: "If the Minister does not wish to lay • the Statement on the I table, I have nothing to do with tliat. The debate.can only be interrupted by ' a Governor's Message. . The Speaker then called upon tho member who'had risen to continue tho .. debate. i Mr. M'Kenzie: I-ask leave to lay the Ppblic Works. Statement on the table. I undertake to say this is the last time ■I will go : through this process. j Mr. Massey: I hope that when you ': say the Public Works Statement you in- •' , elude the Public' Works Estimates. . 'Mr. M'Kenzie:-No, I don't. I have nothing to do with-that. • ' : Mr. Speaker: The Estimates are.with the Message. .- Mr. Massey: I beg your pardon. Mr. Speaker: It is usual.to read tho i Public' Works Statement. The Minister asks leave to lay it. on-the table. Mr. M'Kenzie: That was altered by the House, five or sis years ago.. . The Speaker explained.that the Minister could only, lay' tlie Statement" on . the table (instead of reading it) : .by. the indulgence of the House.. That had been granted {or the last two or three years, aStf'he^'supposed it '.Would', be granted that night. .'.-'.-. Mr. Massey .asked when the debate ' on the. Statement would.be taken. , Mr. ! M'Kenzie: I should say about this day fortnight. ("Oh, oh," and laughter.), $ . .Mr. Massey:,:l sincerely hope.that in a fortnight's time the Minister will be ■. in a more, sensible, frame of mind than he/is. at- present.-. Mr. M'Kenzie said he was ill'a-sen-sible ■ and. _reasondble frame of mind. When lie 'said . that day fortnight he ■'-: meant it, but! if Mr; Massey and his friends would be reasonable the discussion might be taken that day week. - The Statement was then laid on the .'.table..'.;:-;.: .'.,... ;. L . ." i". ..