CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

A RETURN TALKED OUT. Just under half an (hour was spent by tlio House of Representatives yesterday in discussing a motion by Mr. R. M'Calhim for a return showing the number of men dismissed from tho cooperative works during tho mine months ended Juno 30, 1913. Tho Hon. W. Eraser opposed tlio granting of the returai on the ground that it would supply misleading information which -would' bo useful only for purposes of Opposition electioneering. Ho 'pointed out that tlio motion said nothing about men who left of their own accord, were transferred to another district, or were transferred frorii tho employ of tho Government to that of local bodies under tho Government's policy of letting local bodies as fair as possiblo themsolvos expend Stato grants in their districts. Mr. Davey (referring to tho Minister's charge of electioneering): They ara hemming early, surely? Mr. Eraser: Some of them ha,ve been at it all tlio «ission. . Mr. G. V. Poarco supported tlio Minister in refusing tho return, stating that if granted it would bo entirely misleading and useless. He assumed: that very few men had been dismissed, hut probably a great many of thorn had taken up small which tlioy preforrcd to tlio eo-oporwtivo system. This system had brought good' men down to tho level of bad men, or of men who wero not suitable for navvying work. In his subsequent remarks Mr. Poarco was interrupted by calls of "Question' and "Don't you want this information?" from the other sido of tho House, Twico, Oppositionists sought to arrosfc him oiu points of older, but on cacli occasion ho was allowed to proccod. Mr. G. W. Russell professed to believe tliait tho attitudo of the Govern* ment was duo to a desiro to block tho next return on tho Order Paper, one dealing frith tlio stores supplied to a military camp at Cambridge. Mr. Russell was still on his feet when 5.30. p.m. arrived, so that ho talked out tlio return asked for by his colleague, tho membor for Wairau.