SHARP REBUKE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 7

SHARP REBUKE

MR STALLWORTH Y AGAIN. THAT UNITED PARTY CAUCUS. WELLINGTON, August 30. A verbal castigation for stating that members or the Opposition had personally attacked the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, was administered in the House of Representatives l to the Minister for Health (the Hon: Mr Stallworthy), by Mr A. M. Samuel (R. Thames), in the course of his Budget speech. Mr Samuel said that the Minister for Health had accused members of making fierce attacks upon the Prime Minister. The statement was absolutely incorrect, and everybody in the House knew it. They all had the greatest admiration for him as a. man. Mr Stallworthy had suggested that Opposition members had made personal attacks, and he had characterised them as bitter attacks, r

“Let me tell the Hon. Minister,” said Mr Samuel, “that he should be the very last person in this House to open up a subject of that kind. I’m extremely sorry that he is not in his place, because I wanted to refer him to his attitude when a caucus of the United Party candidates was held before the ' Prime Minister came back from England. If I am saying anything unfair, there are other gentlemen in this House who were at that conference, and I expect them to get up and contradict me.” Mr J. S. Fletcher (U.', Grey Lynn); You know we can’t.

Mr Samuel: YeS, I know you can’t. (Loud laughter.) Let me say that if they are not satisfied, it is their duty to contradict me. It may be that it will be denied, but the Minister for Health can’t get away from the Press interview.

Mr Fletcher: Is the hon. gentleman aware that the Prime Minister was in Wellington when that Party caucus was held ? Mr Samuel: I don’t know where he was. I know exactly what happened at the conference. I know that the selection of leader resolved itslf into a dead-heat. There were two men left in it, and their votes were got rid of. I admire the Prime Minister for his insisting on his election as leader of the Party being unanimous, and a certain gentleman ate his words. Yet that same gentleman accuses this Party of making fierce attacßs on the Prime Minister. Why, he definitely stated in the newspaper interview that he would not follow Sir Joseph as Prime Minister 1 The whole of • this country knows it. It is known from one end of the country to the other. It is absolutely ridiculous for him to get up and make a statement when he knows that everybody knows it is incorrect. “The Minister for Health,” continued Mr Samuel, “accused others of political humbug. He started to quote the Bible, but aid not get far. He said something abbut the Book of Samuel, and then went on. I don’t know who was King David, or who was Uriah.

“I would suggest to the Minister for Health that he should be a little more charitable when v speaking. Let me refer him to a verse in the Bible, which I advise him to read, r mark, learn, and inwardly digest. I refer to the 13th verse of the\l3th Chapter of the First Book of Corinthians. I daresay all of you know it.” Mr Speaker (amid laughter): Order! Order 1