"NOT PLAYING THE GAME"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3129, 6 July 1917, Page 5

"NOT PLAYING THE GAME"

TALK ABOUT TITLES HONOURS TO NEW ZEAL 1 ANDERS DISCUSSED MINISTERS REFUTE CHARGES■ . "I wish to call your attention to the manner in which Parliament is being degraded by tho speeches that have been made this afternoon." In the above words 'Hie Prime Minister

made his protest to Mr, Speaker in the Houso-yesterday against the use by two members of the House, Mr. Payne and Mr. Hindmarsli, of immoderate language in speeches they had delivered to (lie House. , '' | Mr. Payne had a list of Bills down for

introduction. The first he called "the Political Corruption Bill." He spoke to tho

motion for leave to introduce and made one of his characteristic speeches. He spoke,of,* proposal to appoint a Minister to the Supreme Court bench,'.declaring that this would be "one of the worst examples of graft ever perpetrated."' He said a few other things besides, but this subject,was not pursued ty other members, and the Bill was introduced and Tead a first time. •-.'-.

His second Bill -was "the Suppression of Titles and Abolition of Pomp and Ceremony Bill." He declared against all titles, saying that we were "creating a . gingerbread gentry in New Zealand," and that titles or honours were "political ■.messes'of uottage." • Mr. A.H. Hinniarsh went ,into a little more detail., Ho'said that honours were conferred in'this country to people who had done nothing for the country, but who had been rewarded in this way for big contributions made to the party funds. He took special execution to the knighting of Sir Jaihes; Mills, and of other nersons who had no other claim ( to'distinction than the possession of wealth. Ho was not quite so radical n« Mr. Payne, because he admitted that titles were permissible if they were »iven for real social service. He was willing •to admit, for instance, that Mr. A. .T. Balfour and Mr. Asquith were each entitled to earldoms. -. But; he o""demrnd mundly the purchase-, o f titles. He thought the abuse was worse in New Zealand than in England, because in Ensrlnnd those iii charge of the Government were usually educated men. Here "a clod-hopper might suddenly become Prime Minister.", ■ .■*

Sir Joseph Ward said he wished to_ refer, to the remarks made by Mr. Hind- ' marsh about the. honour conferred upon Sir James Mills. 'That honour was conferred upon the recommendation of the Government of: which' he had at the time been the head, and the recommendation had certainly not been, made because of any contribution to the party funds by Sir James Mills by the great company which he.directed. In actual fact, Sir James Mills, had never been a supporter of his (Sir Joseph Ward's) party. Defending tho granting of honours generally he said: "Who will say that the present Minister of Defence,

who has never been a political supporter uf mine, has not by merit and long'service, won the right to that distinction?" (Hear, hear.) it was "rather rough,"

lie continued, for the honourable gentlemen to say ''uiouey talks." ' Sir James -Mills had .never Mjceii a political supporter of his, but he had been for many years a highly-respected citizen of New Zealand, and had been for a number of years a member of tho New Zealand Parliament. Mr. Hnulmarsh: There aro thousands of men who have done as much, and he is picked but. '.•'..

Sir Joseph Ward:. "Ho lias done nothing which would put a'blemish on his reputation, or make him unfit to receivo an honour from His Majesty." He added that-if there ,was one thing mora

than another which had made him ad- ' mire. the aristocracy of England it was ■ the manner in which they had' fought in this war.

Mr.' Hindmarslv: They had to. They were strained into it. :

Sir. Joseph Ward; said that they had come forward voluntary' and fought Bide by side with men from lower walks of life, and so had made it possible in the future to got rid of the .class feeling that had existed in Great Britain before the war.

Mr. Massey spoke on the matter also. "At one time," he said, "the people of • New' Zealand' were proud, and properly so, of the - manner in ■ which • the New Zealand Parliament conducted its business. I am afraid that if the people of New Zealand heard some of the speeches that afternoon; they would change their opinion. Ido not,see that a debato such as- this can serve any good purpose". I. can't see'how it can serve tho public good in any way. Ido not think . the' speeches made 'by the honourable members did credit' to 'the members themselves or to the people they represent. : That. is my opinion, for what it is worth." ■■-.'■■ i i Mr. Hindmarsh • I am glad you put it that way, "For what it is worth." . Mr. Massey: said that it had been his privilege to make recommendations regarding honours to be conferred on fellow-citizens. Ho-whuld refer to the last list. He really did.' not think the member for Wellington South knew what ho was saying when lie declared that the party now in power had made recommendations because of money paid to the paTty funds. : The recommendations last time included tho Senior Judge ,of the Supreme Court, a man at whom the finger of scorn had never- been pointed. Did the honourable, member, suggest that-there was anything .wrong ' with, that recoiiimoiuTation ?

Mr. Hindmarsh: You know I do not. Mr. Massey' referred to Dr. Truby King, who had. been given the distinction .of C.M.G: Did the. honourable member- ol](ject to this?

Mr. Hindmarsh: No; I think he was worth a K.C.M.G.

Mr. Massey: - Then, there was Mr. Luke. Mr. Luke has been Mayor of Wellington for four years, arid during those years lie has done splendid services to the peoplo of Wellington audi of New Zealand. I don't think there is a'man-wlio has worked harder for the cause of our soldiers than the Mayor of Wellington.. ' ■ An lion, member: So has the Mayor of' Auckland.

Mr. Massey:. I am aware of that. ,The time of the' Mayor •of Auckland may conic presently. Yon must remember that the number of these honours are limited, and we can 'make recommendations only on two occasions during the year. . Proceeding, he said that he honourable member could' not object to these honours, and if he had anv sense of 'the fitness of things, he would stand up' and apologise.

Mr. Hindmarsh: I object to Sir James Wilson.

Mr. Massey said he was willin- to defend the recommendation of Sir James Wilson. When he entered tlie House twenty-three years ago Mr. Wilson, as ,he was then, had been a member for some years, and he retired later for health reasons. In the twenty years since that time he had worked 'very hard in the public interest. He had given all his energy free for tho benefit of farmers. *io cleaner or more honester man could be found in the country. Mr. Hindmarsh: There are ten thousand others, and tliey get nothing. Mr. Massey: "I know there are many people in the world who do not get what they deserve." (Laughter.) He went on to refer to one or two others. He had recommended Sir Walter Buchanan. Did the honourable member object to that? Mr. Hindmarsh: No. .

llr. Jlassey named also Mr. fieorgo Hogben, and again llr. Hindmarsh. had no fault to find. Mr. Mnssey's' final word was that this sort of attack on the Government was "not playing the game." I; the lionourable members opposed to him knew anything wrong with his administration, let thein'hnve.it out. JTn was quite prepared to face it, and to give them an opportunity of making iiwuiry. But if they did not know anything, let them drop these vicious, spiteful suggestions, which did no credit to themselves or to the House. The feeling of the House on Ihe matter may be gauged from the fact that a division was called on the introduction of the Bill—a thing almost unexampled m the Hmisp—and the Bill was rejected by 48 votes to i.