MEMBER’S SPEECH

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1932, Page 5

MEMBER’S SPEECH

CAUSES SENSATION MR STALLWORTHY’S ATTACK. (Per Press Association — Copyright:) WELLINGTON, October 26. In the House •of Representatives last night Mr A. J. Stallworthy caused a sensation in the course of his speech. ITe made references to the Min.ster’s action in renewing the school text.book contract before the Education Committee of the House-had had an opportunity to consider numerouspetitions advocating the adoption of the open tender system. “I .resent the Minister s suggestion that I take my orders from master printers in this matter,” declared Mr Stallworthy. Mr Schramm: “He was a colleagueof yours in the- United Ministry!” Mr Stnllworthy: “If the Minister i descends to insinuations like that, he must take all the medicine that is coming to hint. The Mihistel* made- a personal, verbal assault On a mfember of this Housfe because he took a stand On behalf of 17,000 people On this question. I Was grossly insulted in the Lobbies of this House by the Minister because of my stand in the matter, and I want to place on record my resentment-. If that sort of thing is done to me one day, it will be done to someone else another day!” Mr Stalhvorthy then turned to the use of Orders-in-Council for legislative instead of administrative purposes. He had come into the Home loudly condemning the past Administration’s practice of using Orders-in-C'ouncil as a means of legislation instead of employing them to carry out the intentions of the laws already passed by Parliament. ‘He: -said: “Here we find an un-elected member of ‘another place’—who for the time being, is in the position of Minister of Industries and Commerce —in a most outrageous way using, the extraordinary powers of Orders-in-Council.” He continued: ‘ ‘What for 1 In my own electorate, as well as in others, we have the retailers putting up a great struggle against the chain stores and corporations, which are crushing thie very life 'blood out of them! The Minister does nothing to save them from th-e price cutters and the rings, but, when it -comes to the question of protecting theatre proprietors against a stronger combination, then the most extraordinary and unprecedented powers in the legislative life of this country are usurped by the present Minister! It Was reported that this action was taken to safeguard his. own private interests.”

Mr Smith: “Thai; is not sol It is unfair!” *

Mr Stnllworthy: “I am not saying it is so, I am saying it is widely reported.” Mr Smith: “Tlnvt is very un-Chris-tian !’ ’

Mr-Speaker intervened at this s'" Age. He said Mr St all worthy should not make a statement of t'he kind. It was just as bad to,say that certain things wore reported .about members as to allege that they had done those things. He did not know what Mr Stall worthy’s object was, but he left the inference that the things he said were possibly true. He had given Mr Stallworthy a good, deal of latitude. Although Speakers of the Lower House had to be careful when referring to members of “another place,” at the same time, thei honourable gentleman referred to was a Milliter, of the Crown, and it would no & be right to prevent him from coming trader criticism. He had let Mr Stallworthy criticise the Minister because lie was a Minister, but he could not allow statements to be made which might be interpreted as being a reflection on the character of a member of “another place.” Mr Stalhyorthy said he had no wish to cast reflections. The question was one of grave constitutional concern. He had only used the remark to show that he had cause to go to the Minister himself. He had said to the Minister that it was stated that, because he was interested in a theatre in Stratford, he had taken these extraordinary powers to prevent interference. “I asked the Minister if it were true,” Mr Stallworthy . said, “and he said: ‘lt is truei I a.m interested in x a picture theatre business.’ Labour members: “Oh! Oh!” Mr Stallworthy: “But he said, if, when a big combination comes along and threatens us, and says that we could give them a voice in the directorate, and assure them a share of their earnings, then I think T am justified in taking these extraordinary powers.”