A CRITICISING DEBATE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1925, Page 4

A CRITICISING DEBATE

MEMBERS ANXIOUS ENQUIRY (*• Lyttelton Times ” Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 25. Private members, jealous of tlieii privilege of initiating legislation, showed resentment when in the House today the Prime .Minister moved that Government business for the remainder of the session should take precedence on Wednesdays which is the usual day for private members’ hills. Supporters of the Government did not join in the discussion, but for two hours Oppositionists kept up their criticism, mainly along the lines that in view of the Government’s apparent failure to produce a programme it need not interfere with private members’ efforts in that direction. When the Prime Minister moved the motion ho was reminded by Air Eorbes, Leader of the Opposition, that it was usual to justify it hy a statement of the business which the Government desired to pass. The Hon J. A. Hannan said the session was going to prove barren. It would prove the most useless one in a most critical time. Parliament was supposed to pass useful legislation, hut it was making the institution a farce if j L v . as to he rushed and no results accrued. Sir James Parr: What have we done so I’m? Mr Tlanan : All the more reason foi stopping lo do something. Member; were naid to do the work of the conntrv. but they were simply rushing ti get an election before a certain time It meant that the political hie ol tin country was being demoralised by : degrading condition of affairs. N* wonder people were losing respect loi Parliament.

Mr Sullivan supporting Hie protest t suggesting that it the Government was ’I not anxious to pass anythin”; except a a few consolidatin'; Acts it should not v interfere with the privileges of P>i- t vale members, who at any rate, had i some useful legislation to suggest, a Kvorv private member ought to stand j up for his rights. * Mr l.ysnar hoped it was not the | Government’s intention to shut down on orivate members Hills at so early i a stage. Me proposed to introduce legislation dealing with meat trusts if the Government would not do so, hut his hands were tied by the Government holding on to the \ estey .Meat Works Inquiry report. He could not see much Government legislation on the Order Paper. WHERE IS THE LICENSING BILL? Mr Veiteh remarked that the member for Gisborne, as usual, thought the Government was wrong, hut he would vote for it. What was the Government going to dor' Its policy measures so far were the most nebulous ever produced. The most important seemed to he something to do with representation of Rotorua Borough. Council. Would the Government introduce a Licensing Hill? Perhaps it thought it impossible to reconcile the views of the member lor Christchurch Xorth. and the member for Ricearton, who contributed to its very slender majority. .Mr Veiteh proceeded to outline a number of orivate members’ Pills on the Oder Paper, all of which, he said, were to he side-tracked by a resolution moved hv “this stonewall Government.’’ An attempt was being made to avoid defeat by not introducing unv contentious legislation. If Parliament was lo he carried on to suit the convenience of a party desiring jo Slav in nover the people would soon realise that the party was preventing the solution of great national problems which it was the duty ol Parliament to tackle. Parliament was being hamstrung in the interests ol parly strife, and had ceased to he an instrument of national development. “All private members should join hands again-t ibis motion." urged Mr M 'Combs. If passed it would block consideration oi the Rill to give women more civil rights, a Rill tor electoral improvement, and stifle discussion on many matters of public importance. In lurihering the protest, Mr Praser asked if the Government was going to (loud every Parliamentary minute with its legislation, if so there had been no sign of this. It seemed that the Government was anxious to close down early, but he would not say it desired a snap election so much as to hide iis bankruptcy of ideas. Mr Fraser added that he could not understand Mr l.ysnar being willing to vole for the motion so long as he could get special Incililics for his own little Hill to keep up a perpetual meat commission. “A member of Parliament is paid I!!;" days a year," declared .Mr Howard, “but how manv workers are paid for every day!-' Yet members who talk about them going slow are prepared to try to shullle out of their job by passing; inis resolution." Fight weeks had gone without tiny indication of the Government's policy. Mr Holland, pointing out that very little Government business was on the Order Paper, asked the Prime Minister tn tell the House what was to come. Whether the Government wanted the general election before the Dunedin Exhibition or not should he explained. .Most members would like to he at the opening, hut if the election took place before this date members would have little time for campaigning. Mr Edie suggested that if the country’s interests were more important than the Dunedin Exhibition they should go on with the work until it was done. Several other members spoke critically. including Mr S. G. Smith, who asked what, the member for Christchurch North had done for his country I that he should get an opportunity of keeping Parliament sitting till 7 a.in., to consider his Hill. PRIME MIXISTER’S ANSWER. The Prime .Minister, in reply, referred to .Mr Hannan’s remark regarding this being the most useless session in the history of the country. This was the ninth week of Parliament, and they had had six no-confidence motions. “We have fifteen Government Rills before Parliament at the moment and fourteen others ready to come j down.” said Mr Coates, “this making twenty-nine.” lie characterised Mi j ffanan’s speech as a typically party speech, uf the kind lie had made time after time. Mr Hnnan: Not at all. The Prime Minister: He does not take the broad view one would expect of a man who gets on the platform and talksMr Rhodes (Thames): On broad national lines. Mr Hnnan interjected something that sounded like “ figurehead Prime Minister.” “I am not proposing to take his advice,” continued Mr Coates, “as to what or what not should he done. I am sorry the lion, gentlemen cannot take what he gives. When he makes a severe attack on the Government, the leader of the Government is entitled to reply to him in much the same terms." The Prime Minister then went on to quote some Government measures !:o proposed to a»k the House to deal with, including Harbour Roan! Act Amendment. Taxation, Annual Taxation, Funding of National Debt. Land Bill No. 2. Public Works Amending. ! Power Boards Amending. Mining, j Stone Quarries, Pensions Amending, ■ shipping and Seamens Amending, Coal trines. Stanm Duties. Bent Restriction, 1

and Workers Compensation for Accident. Other Bills were also ready and would be submitted in due course. Mr Forbes: Wliat about the Licensing Bill? The Priino Minister: Later in the session I will say wliat has yet to be brought down or what not brought down in that connection.” Mr Coates continued that it had been argued that the time for bringing forward this motion was unusually early, but really he was only following precedent. This was practically the ninth week of the session. The Prime Minister scanned the list of private members’ Bills, and when he suggested that Mr M’Combs’s Popular Initiative and Referendum Bill was a proportional representation measure, -Mr M'Combs corrected him. Mr Tlanan : Fancy a Prime Minister not knowing that! Mr Coates: It has to do with voting. It is a pity the lion, member cannot take a chastising. He must he irascible to-day. These Bills, added the Prime Minister. had not the slightest chance of passing. knew this. "Ih.cn let them get down to business. Tfi li ELECTION DATE. 'T am not able to tell members the dale of the general election,” continued .Mr Coates. “ Everything depends on when the business ot the House is finished. Country members must certainly have a chance to get over their districts.” There seemed a difference of opinion, as some members wanted a long time, others only wanted a short time for the campaign, but tlie Government would take no advantage of them. There would be no rush election, and members would have plenty of time to place their views before their constituents. As for the suggestion from the Labour benches that the country was anxious to say whether it desired to clear out- the ■ader and his party who occupied the reasury benches, he took it that, part from dealing with those matters, hich were strictly matters on which lie late Prime Minister had given an ulication that they would he dealt ill) this session, nothing of great imortaiice ought to bo dealt with; and he country should he given an opporunity of judging. Mr Parry: Why did you not give hem an opportunity beloro? Mr Coates: 1 did not hear that (plosion. lie added that lie did not prowise to discuss fusion. As for the Poster Meat Purchase Commission, he iad hoped to lay the report on the able this week, hut he found it slid i huge document that it would take Approximately ten days to print, lit would lay it on the table next wed uul give an opportunity for discus doll. Mr Lysnnr: Why not make aiiothc ropy ? Mr Coates: That would take as lorn as printing. The lion. member speech lasted five or six days alone (Laughter.) Filially the Prime .Minister under took to prepare a statement of legirlatiou. and to suggest the time whei the Government thought the sessio might conclude. The Prime Minister’s motion wa contested on party lines, though M Lysnnr did not vote. It was carried b votes to 2S.