MINISTER REFUSED EXTENDED TIME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 5

MINISTER REFUSED EXTENDED TIME

Own CorreBPondent.)

Member's Action Rouses Storm in House "A PERSONAL MATTER"

(From Our

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The political storm whieh has beeft brewing for some time regarding the privilege extended to members m addressing the House of Representatives beyond their allotted time broke with some vxolence at the conclusion of the seeond-reading debate on the Finance Bill in the House this afternoon. The trouble came to a head when Mr. W. J- Polson refused an extension of time to tha Minister of Finance, the Hon, Walter Nash, in the latter's reply to the debate. The first snggestion of the difficulty became apparent yesterday, when Mr. D. McDougall (Ind., Mataura) refused an extension of time to two former Prime Ministers, the Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes and the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates. The rules of the House provide that a motion for extending a speaker's time must be approved unanimously. A single objection is all that is necessary to defeat the. motion. After Mr. McDougall had refused Mr. Coates an extension last night, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, interjected that in future all speeches would have to be confined to half an hour. — Mr. Nash rose to reply to the debate on the Finance Bill shortly after 4.30 o'clock ithisv afternoon, and he had discussed a number of points when the bell rang indicating that only five minutes of his allotted itime remained. Extension Refused. Mr. Forbes immediately rose and moved that the Minister 's time be extended but when the question was put to the House by the Speaker, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, Mr. W. J. Polson (Nat., Stratford) immediately. shouted "No." The Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser: That is a rotten action. It is typical of the member for Stratford- . "It is a rather difficult position," said Mr. Nash, "because it is impossible for me to reply to about 20 speakers in half • an hour. Apparently some effort is being made to stop the Government 's story from getting to the House." Mr. Polson rose to a point of order. "I heard the Minister . of Education interject that my action was rotten. Was I unfair?" Mr. Nash continued with his speech to complete his remaining five minutes, and had been talking some time when Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Nat,, Waitoma) interjected: "You've got a good extension." The Speaker then requested the Minister to resume his seat. "Did I hear the member for Waitomo make that interjection? " he Mr. Broadfoot: Yes, sir. I have been watching the clock, and the Minister has been speaking for more than five minutes since the bell rang. Disorderly Interjection. "The honourable gentleman has no right to mdke an interjection like that," said the Speaker. "In such circumstances it is his duty to call my attention to the matter and not to make interjections across the floor of the House— an interjection which is dis--orderly." Mr Nash took hi's seat beside the Chairman of Committees, Mr E. J. Howard. Tha House then went into committee on the Bill, and the Leader of the Opposition rose and expressed regret that it had been necessary to refuse the Minister an extension. However, it was obvious from what had bappened the day before that. some new arrangement would have to "be made. Mr Nash: It was a personal matter. Mr Hamilton: It was not a personal matter at all. Mr Broadfoot: Where 's Mr McDougall? Mr Eraser; The member who refused extensions before was not in the House at the time. The incident then closed.