THE CLOSURE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1932, Page 8

THE CLOSURE

FIRST APPLICATION THIS

SLaoioA

A LONG. DISCUSSION TiiltbiiiN ATED.

WELLINGTON, November 30.

For the first'.time this session the closure was invoked in the j'House of Representatives to-day' during’ ' the Committee stages of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill. For the greater part of last evening and during the whole of this la tier noon Labour speakers had discussed the sixth clause which gives the Government power by Or d-er-in-Go unei 1 to abolish hospitals on the recommendation of the 'Commission. It was a fairly-open secret that Labour members had resolved- to keep the discussion in the Committee stages going until the return to-morrow of tlie Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) from the M'otueka by-election cahiipaign. There were frequent conflicts "between Labour speakers and the Chairman of Committees (Mr S. G. Smith), regarding the relevancy of some of the remarks made ostensibly in with the Clause under discussion.

Late in the afternoon, Mr Smith interrupted Mr D.- G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon), Aviih the remark ( “I think the lion, gentleman had better get ‘.t new argument. This one has been used 15 times.”.

Tlie antagonism of Labour members towards the chairman gradually developed as th© afternoon werit' dn and in spite of a warning by the Prime Minister (the Rt, Hon. G. W!' Forbes) they persisted in arguing on the clause. banned phrases. After threatening to take action against Mr A. S- Richards (Lab., Roskill 1 ), Mr Smith announced shortly before five o’clock that the House had ndw heard 40 speeches oh the clause. He read out a long suit of phrases and warned members that further reforencos to them would immediately ■be ruled out of-order on the ground of “tedious repietiton.” “You''mean we’re being gagged,” said Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central).. - •• ; >' • . • The next incident was a protest from Mr R: McKeen (Lab.. ■Wellington South,) that lie had risen in his chair eight times without once having been allowed to speak, “I am going to object to that sort of treatment,” he said, declaring that four of his .colleagues had been allowed to spe'-k .two'or three times. When eventually he didl speak, Mr McKeen proceeded to attack the Government' for sending two secretaries to Motueka with the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and he was again called to order. 1 MR, JORDAN’S DECLARATION. The Opposition was further when Mr W. J. Jordan (Lab.. Manukau) came into‘conflict with the Clta'ir through attempting to discuss one of the subjects which had been barred. He declared he had as much right as the Prime Minister or the Minister in qhai’ge 'cf tha Bill to discuFs' any subject he wished. He was prepared to resign his 's-a.t and. contest the election on this issue. • 1 1 .' " '' '

Eventually the Minister for Health (the "Hon. J. A. Yotirig) moved that the question should be put. There was immediately uproar from Labour members, who asked why their questions Were not to be answered!. Mr Smith said that a: reasonable time had been allowed fbr the discussion of the clause, find he would p\it: the motion. ' .

The closure motion was carried by 37 votes to 18. and the clause was retained by 34 votes to 24, Messrs H. M; Campbell, J. Hargest,' A. ‘E. Jull, and A. M. Samuel were the Government members who voted against the clause.