NAPIER THEATRE SITE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 985, 28 November 1910, Page 5

NAPIER THEATRE SITE.

> THE PRIME MINISTER AND MR. FISHER IN CONFLICT. 'A JFAHM DEBATE. Shortly after tho LTouso met on Sat- / flrday morning the second reading of ' tho Napier Municipal Theatre nntl Buildings Bill (Mr. Brown) was called on. Mr. "Brown had on a previous occasion moved to abandon tho Bill, but as there was some objection to this' leave was refused: When tho Bill-was called Mr. Brown was absent from tho 1 House, and :,, ; ■ Mr. Fisher moved the second reading. -. , . »' -Mr.'-.T. E. Taylor said he understood i Mr. Brown wished to drop the Bill.; Mr. ';Mr. Fisher: I object to its being dropped, and I propose to go on 'with it He briefly explained tho object of the Bill, which was to allow a portion of a leserve in Clive (square to be utilised "as. a site for the proposed municipal ■ theatre. The Hon. E. M'Kenzie: What have you got to do witli it? Mr. Fisher: Would the hon. gentlejiian mind his own business? .Mr. '■•■Ell: -They have bought another Site. . ■' . ■■'.-.' ij Mr. vFisher: I am surprised to find the member - for Christchurch North (Sir. T. E. Taylor) and. the member for Christchurch'- South (Mr. Ell) endeavouring to work a • pointi for a hotel. If you must have .the truth there it is. ;, Cries of "Oh!" and "'Withdraw." ; L Anion, member: Is that so? , i Mr. • Fisher: Yes: Tho hon. gentleBien are trying to work a point for a hotel, 'and it is an interesting position Ifco see./ '.''.'■.. ;Mr, I must get them to *'ork'in the King Country. (Laughter.) . . .•■"■■ Mr.; Fisher proceeded to give the' history of.the Bill during the present session of Ho said the people ■oE Napier and the Municipal Council uere in.; favour of the Bill,: and they ; knew as well as anyone why the Biil . -had be'en. blocked 1 . The people of Napier had. through this been compelled to spend some thousands of pounds on the purchase of another site, and he ■ Eiid that_ the member for the district iras working against the express wishes of the people and the Municipal Council. •■. ■

The; Prime Minister said it was a pity the hon. gentleman did not tell the House, the special circumstances in connection with his action. If he wero to put on record the object of the lion, gentleman's visit to Napier —— Mr..Fisher: You do it. ■ ;The;Prime Minister: It would show t<> what extent a private member of the House.could go out of his way to injure another private member for party purposes. (Cries of "Oh I") • ' ; Mr. Fisher: You put it on record if you can." The Prime Minister: Then lie comes along here and interferes with, the Kiember'for Napier's Bill. I'have seen nothing ■ worse in 'my time in Parliament. ■'." ' ■■■:■. What Is Political Impertinence? If anyone did the same to him (Mr. Fisher) he would look upon it as a piece of; political impertinence of the worst character.. He is trying to damage a member in his absence with' comments that-are absolutely unjustifiable. It is one of the worst phases of political fighting,-I .have, seen since I. have, been in'this'House. '■ '\ - , ..'/•"

Mr. -Massey;gave-the. Prime-Minis-ter's' statement that Fisher' had' gone up to Napier for party purposes an emphatic denial... . ; He . said if- anyone knew;he ought..to'know, and "he wished: to flatly contradict:;the 6taternent. ■ As to., tho Bill they all knew tlia-t there; was:ji very in , Napier', about', it/.-'-and.:- the "Borough Council had waited on the Prime Minister in a body and had aske3 him to pass the-8i11.~,'-. , . ! '■•■'

The Prime Minister said he : was glad to hear Mr. Massey say that Mr. Fisher had not gone to Napier for party purposes. He had seen a letter which had been shown hiinby the member for the district that he had been spying on the actions of that member.

Mr. Fisher: I'.think that remark is highly improper—(hear, hear) —and should not be allowed. If 1 ]iked I could'say some things also' Tho Prime,, Minister: I'll withdraw, the'word "spying." , . . , Mr. Fisher: Now produce the letter. The Prime Minister: I have not the /letter. The member for Napier has it. Mr. Ell said he had never heard such i-a mean attack on an h'on. member. Mr. Speaker: The word "mean , ' 1 must be withdrawn. , . ' . .' ' ■". Mr..Ell:'l withdraw, that word, sir.' I will say a most unfair attack. - . Mr. T. E. Taylor, moved that the debate be adjourned.'■ Tho'member for the district had asked him to withdraw the Bill. He understood it was'.stated there were two public-houses behind'the one behind' it arid • one trying to prevent its being passed.' Hey however, knew nothing about that. Mr. Dillon (whoso remarks could only be partially heard in the' press gallery) vets understood to say somothing about "never behind a man's back." Mr. Fisher said tho statement made M>y the Prime Minister was quite.inaccurate. He had- gone. ■to Napier 'on medical advice, as he was suffering from the same complaint as was the Xeader of the Opposition at the time. The Prime Minister:.! accept that ..Statement.' ■■■•■'■■ 'Mr. Fisher: Well, I am glad the light hon. gentleman does, because that is the fact. As to Mr. Brown he had looked for him, and hoped he would have been in the House when the Bill was called on.-. . . .

The debate was adjourned, which, at this period of the session, is tantamount to killing tho Bill.