TENSE MOMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1930, Page 5

TENSE MOMENT

MR RUSHWORTH ON PARTY LOYALTY.

WELLINGTON, August 5,

There was a rather tense moment in the House to-night when Mr Rushworth, Independent member for Bay of Islands, took the opportunity of defending a fellow Independent. He remarked that the -previous speaker, Mr Clinkard, had taken Mr Fletcher (Grey Lynn) to task, for not • being loyal to his party, while he had held himself up as a., model of loyalty. “How would the member for Rotorua like it,” added Air Rushworth, “if I asked him it he had his price?” Air Cilinkard: A very improper suggestion. Air Rushworth: Yes, a very proper suggestion.'He gelded that Air Clinkard was keenly interested in the subject of timber.

“In what way?” asked Air Clinkard .

Air Rush worth: It would not be unreasonable for one to suggest to the member for Rotorua that he had consideration for his loyalty. ;

“Is that allowed?” demanded Mr Clinkard.

Air Speaker invited Air Rushworth to explain what he meant.

Mr Rushworth: I was suggesting that the member for Rotorua, was able to persuade the Government to put additional protection on timber and its substitutes.

Mr Speaker : Are you referring to the member’s own private business? Mr Rushworth: No not to that. 1 don’t know his private busings. I do know lie is keenly interested in timber. He has been an advocate of it ever since I have known him.

Mr Fraser (Wellington Central): So have many other members.

Mr Rushworth: The member four Rotorua has been able to get the duties on timber considerably increased. My suggestion is that if the member for Grey Lynn had been able to get the Government to assist his pet hobby to the same satisfactory extent lie might have been just as loyal as the member for Rotorua.

Mr .Speaker inquired whether Mr Rushworth' was suggesting that Mr Glinkard was likely to make any private gain. Mr Rushworth: No. that was not in my mind at all. I want to make it quite clear that there was no idea in my mind of suggesting that Mr Clinkard had any private business interests in timber or anything of that sort, or that be made any private deal. I was referring only to his political dealings. The incident then dropped.