MEMBERS AND MINISTERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 5

MEMBERS AND MINISTERS.

RECRIMINATIONS IN PARLIAMENT. The'debate in "the House of Representatives yesterday, morning on the Railways Authorisation ;Bill was marked 1 by several passages , between members and Ministers. The most .open' break was between Mr. Jennings ' and the Minister for, Public Works (Hon. R. M'Kenzie)'. Mr. Jennings had been criticising the refusal of .the Government,to commence the construction of the Stratford-Ongariie line at the Origarue i end, and ' threatened to : test' the feeling of the House with' a resolution at the proper time.'. ? ■ Mr. ' M'Kenzie - was evidently N not' pleased. Ho advised Sir.' Jennings to get' on, with his no-confidence motion . whenever he liked. 1 . He had had grave doubts whether Mr.-Jennings had not been on the wrong sido of the House for many years.- " v: Mr. Jennings: Vory . good of you to J33T that. . ■'• Jlr. M'Kenzie, concluded by advising Mr. " Jennings to get on the back Opposition, benches as >,spoil. : as iie- liked;-- ■ '. Mr.--'J<wiQgs' r -r6se'j , fto'! a-fpersbHal-explanation. • '-'The Minister for Public iWoris, with- his l characteristic gentle-' tnanly, ■condnct,- had . r the .temerity to say- 1 ;.that.' I - cffuld : not express -my opinion on_ the-floor of the House. So far" as he is' concerned, and his' gentlemanly deineanomV'l will not'yield to lim in any way whatsoever!" in. expressing the wishes of my constituents." ;• Sir." M'Kenzie objected that this was Jiot a personal' explanation. Mr. Jennings said he would not confctiit Mr. M'Kenzie or any other mem- ■ iber of the House as to what his duty 'Was.'- ''■ - • ■ ■ v I Eariierin iho ovenxng there was a (Mssage conberning. tho tenancy of the Iwaikato seat.. Mr. Poland (OKneihuri) pkl that Mr. Greenalade had threatened, if the Minister for Public Works insisted Tipon. the local bodies giving i£3ooo towards. the- cost of the Huntly ibridge, to resign, his seat and contest St again. , Sir Joseph Ward-said if such a statetowni; lad been made the answer of she Government would have been; "By fell means resign." . Mr. Massey: Thai' would- strit you, Srould' it not? Mr. Greenslade; I did) not" say that. Sir Joseph Ward said that m far Ss_ lie knew Mr. Greenslade . had nwer Mid'that'to the Government; and the" jJovermnent would not allow itsolf to be influenced -in; such a manner.