ECHOES OF OAMARU.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1923, Page 1

ECHOES OF OAMARU.

LIVELY EXCHANGES IN THE HOUSE. AVELLIXGTOX. June 20. There were lively exchanges, between the Prime Minister ami Afr Sidey when the (alter, during the course of a protest against the rushing of parliamentary business to suit ministerial convenience, referret! to receitf by-election • events. Air Sidey pointed out that , Alt' Massey’s entry into Onmnrii followed the entry of Liberal members. That was merely an excuse for Ministerial interference. Air Alassey: I required no excuse. Air Sidey said that interference by A 1 misters was one tiling and interference with private members on the part of a fellow member was quite another tiling. The remarkable feature of Air Alassey’s record was the manner in which lie had done as a Aliuister that •which he always condemned as a private member, ids crowning achieveinc*nt boing the part he took in T au■rnnga and O'amaru. Reform’s 1911 manifesto, “which did the trick,” declared that Reform would do away with the wasteful system of grants for votepatching. Afr Afassey: Hear, hear. Air Sidey quoted Air Afassey’s s]leeches where lie declared the system was abominable and was a system of bribing people with their own money. Further, Air Afassey had declared that interference of Afinisters with elections was morally corrupt. In the Onmaru campaign Air Afassey went into every nook and cranny. At Palmerston he received a request for a now post office which he said the Postmaster-General no doubt would consider a right anti proper request. Air Alassey: AVhat is wrong with that? Continuing Ah' Sidey said that Air Alassey told the chairman of the Palmerston High School Committee, who made a request for £2OO for necessary alterations, that ho would he pleased to comply with it. (Derisive laughter). Could anything lie more humiliating than that. Afr Afassey: Nothing except the tiger. Afr Sidey: He says his party staiids for purity! Air Afassey: Which does not apply to yours. Ah- Sidey: Air Alassey’s front card was political purity, lion M r . Downie Stewart: A’ottr party admitted it. Afr Alassey: What did Mr .Masters say ? The Speaker called the House to order. Afr Sidey: The Prime Afini-tc.r came as an apostle of purity. Ihe only things lie had were clean hands and honest service. Art- Alassey: Clean hands aniT a pur heart.

Air Sidey: T have been« twenty-one years in the House. Afr Afassey: Too long. Air Sidey: I would rather remain a private member than have had missed, the opportunities of the Prime Aliuister to ctirrv out professed ideals. AU Alassey: You have done nothing. Th" Prime Aliuister continued a series , f intellections when Air Holland, the Labour leader, was speaking. Air Holland raised a laugh by declaring that the Prime Minister’s method of paving his way was by borrowing like Mienwher. giving another T.0.l . and exclaiming. “Thank God that is paid." When Air Massey interjected that In would lie pleased to hear Labour's criti-ei-ui of the Government’s finance. Air Holland retorted that some people had a remarkable wav of showing their pleasure.