MEMBERS' PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1930, Page 13

MEMBERS' PROTEST

LABOUE ESTIMATES

BREEZE IN THE HOUSE

As an indication of protest against the Labour Department's Estimates being brought on for discussion before the annual report of the Department has been debated, Mr. B. M'Keen (Labour, Wellington South) moved in the House of Eopresentatives late last night that the total vote for the Department be reduced by £10.

"I think members are losing their rights and privileges regarding departmental papers," said Mr. M'Keen, "by allowing the Estimates to pass without tho reports being discussed according to usual custom."

He was supported in his protest by Mr. W. B. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central).

"If tho hon. gentleman likes to waste the country's money in order to have a tilt at the Minister of Labour," said the Minister of Labour (the Hon. S. G. Smith), "that is his responsibility. It is not my desire to take the Estimates before the report has been discussed. The Department's annual report was. presented on 7th August, and the hon. gentleman has had opportunities since then to discuss these matters. I repeat that if the hon. gentleman is going to waste the country's money in order to punish me for something I am not responsible for, it is his responsibility."

Mr. P. Eraser (Labour, Wellington Central): "Nonsense. "

Mr. D. G-. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) said that tho Minister was not treating the workers fairly in taking his Estimates before the discussion on the report of the Labour Department. This was oiae of the Departments in which the workers were vitally interested, and they expected the Labour members to raise points contained in. the report for the consideration of the Minister.

The Minister: "There Trill still ba an opportunity for discussing the report."

Mr. Snllivan said that the Minister knew that once the Estimates were put through adequate opportunity was not given for the discussion of the report of the Department. The passing of the Estimates meant that the money had been voted and the power of the House was gone. The amendment had not been disposed of when the House adjourned.

During the discussion Mr. M'Keen got into loggerheads with the Chairman of Committees (Mr. W. A. Bodkin) after the Minister of Labour had said that the procedure had been set by the Acting-Prime Minister. This answer did not satisfy Mr. M'Keen. "It is manifest," he said, "that the Minister is sheltering behind the Leader of the House, and this makes the Minister a weak simpleton."

Mr. Chairman: "Order! Order! You must withdraw that."

Mr. M'Keen: "I will withdraw that, and say that he is a weak and futile individual."

Mr. Chairman: "Order! The honourable gentleman must withdraw." Mr. M'Keeu: "Am I to withdraw 'weak' or 'futile' 3"

Mr. Chairman: "Both."

Mr. M'Keen: "I withdraw. I will say that the Minister is infantile, and the fact that he is sheltering behind the Leader of tho House shows him as a more puppet." Mr. Chairman: "Order!. You must ■withdraw that."

Mr. M'Keon: "I withdraw. At the present moment, I feel in such a way :tha.t I have not the words , iii ■ my vocabulary to express my feeling."