INCIDENT IN HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1929, Page 8

INCIDENT IN HOUSE

RICCARTON ‘MEMBER AND PRIME MINISTER. WELLINGTON, October 11

After many hours of debate in the House of Representatives to-day on a motion designed to indicate that, the postal servants’ salary cuts should be restored to them, Mr H. E. Holland, leader of the Labour Party, asked leave to withdraw the motion, because the Hon. T. M. Wilford, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, bad promised an early statement on the subject.

Though the withdrawal seemed a .matter of course under the circumstances, Mr Samuel (Thames) and Mr Kyle (Rieearton) went on with the discussion. Mr Kyle conceded that it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister was on a sick bed, but he should leave a Government in charge which could get on with the business. Why, he asked, should the Labour party dominate the Government? The Chairman of Committees: The Labour party is not on the estimates. (Laughter.) Mr Kyle: It is extraordinary that the leader of the Labour party should withdraw an amendment when it becomes awkward for the Government.

Mr Lye (Waikato): A very graceful act.

Mr Kyle: No good bringing sympathy into it when we are handling the affairs of the country.

Mr Semple (Wellington East): Why did you not do the job years agop Mr Kyle: I will do it now if you will help me to get there (laughter). Mr Semple: You were there sixteen years ago and did not do it. ACTS OF CONSIDERATION.

Mr Holland, leader of .the Labour party, made a quiet protest against the attitude of the member for Hitcarton, pointing out that in the past he as leader of his party had made an arrangement with the late Mr Massey in respect to the debate 'em the Imperial Conference because Mr Massey was ill, and he received th n former Prime Minister’s personal thanks, and on a different occasion ho was thanked hv Sir Francis Bell for an act of consideration under s','mil' I’- 1 ’- circumstances. The amendment, he had moved was aimed at an endeavour to got the Government to carrv out its election pledges, and. when the actinor-lcnder of the House intimated that tlie Prime Minister was desirous that the matter should stand over so that he might make a definite statement, ho had taken exactly the same attitude as in the case of the late Mr Massey, “because,” he added pointedly, “the Labour party will always, live iu> to the decencies and courtesies of political life.”

'Hie leader of the Opposition, Mr Coates, declared that he had been pronnred to acehpt the statement of the Postmaster-General that a reclassification had been prepared and that there would he a statement of the Government's intentions. “Most of us were satisfied an cl accepted that as a con - sidered statement,” added Mr Coates. “This side of the House has no intention of taking advantage of the Prime Minister’s indisposition, and we hope he will he back in a few days ready to make a statement.”

Mr Kyle when ho next spoke, avoided the topic which had provoked his leader to intervene. He kept to the safe subject of South Island post offices, expressing a hope that the next annual report of the/ department would not contain views exclusively secured from the North Island.