VARIOUS PARTIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 27 July 1929, Page 2

VARIOUS PARTIES

REFERENCE TO COLONEL McDonald

“BQKiED THE COMPASS” (By Telegraph) (From “The Mail's” Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, 26th July. The relations of the member for Wuirurapa (Colonel T. \V. .McDonald) with various political parties were further alluded to in the House, of Representatives last night. Mr 11. A. Wright (Wellington .Suburbs) said that Colonel McDonald had been very severe on the Reform Party. Colonel McDonald : "Not severe enough.” Mr Wright: ‘‘The lion, gentleman has attacked us in every way, and, of course, our forces have replied, and they have told the lion, gentleman that he lias boxed the political compass.” Colonel McDonald : "lie took his example from you.” Mr Wright: "The lion, 'gentleman has denied it two or three times.” Colonel McDonald : “i never did.” Mr Wright said that Colonel McDonald had wished to join the Reform Party. Colonel McDonald : “Will you sing it for me?” Mr Wright said that at a by-election in J.’atea Colonel McDonald had submitted his name to a ballot which the members of the Reform Party held to select a candidate.

Colonel .McDonald: “1 deny that.” Mr Wright: “1 am holding in my hand a telegram 1 have got from a gentleman who was secretary of the meeting.” Colonel McDonald: “All right!” (Laughter.) Mr Wright said that Colonel McDonald had asked the gentleman what chance he had, and the reply was “None.” (Laughter.) “He went to the vote and secured two votes,” added .Mr Wright. "Later, he said lit# would he the Reform candidate against allcomers. Finding the position hopeless, lie offered to retire if his expenses were paid, and the committee said that they were doing nothing of the kind.” (Laughter.) .Mr "A. M. .Samuel (Thames): “Does he deny that?” Mr Wright said that the gentleman who had sent him the telegram was a reputable man, and a man who had once been a member of the House. Colonel ..McDonald: “Give us his name. ” Mr Wright: “I do not think that 1 shall give the name and put it into 'Hansard.’ ” Several Labour members were heard to interject that the name was Dixon, but Colonel McDonald continued to press Mr Wright to name the sender of the telegram. “A TALKING PLACE”

Mr Wright: “The lion, gentleman has been in. the habit of baiting Mayors, but it is a different matter in this House. The lion, gentleman will find his level here. There are several members who can talk as well as he can. . (Laughter.) This is a talking place. (Renewed laughter.) When he found that there was nothing doing in Ihe Reform Party, and when he came to the conclusion that their policy was no good, he stood as an Independent for Wellington East, and ho contested the election. I am not quite sure—the Minister of Justice, who was leader of ihe National Party at that time will correct me if I am wrong—hut when lie was standing as an Independent he expressed liis willingness to stand as a Nationalist.” Colonel McDonald: “No, you are wrong again.” Mr Wright: “I accept that denial, but lie di<l stand as an independent and did not get in. Then he joined the Labour .Party. He thought, 'There will be something doing here.’ He wanted to get into the House. He paid his money like a man—l don’t know liow much.” (Laughter.) Voices: “2s 6d.” Mr Wright: “After h e joined the Labour Party ho moved a resolution at one of their meetings.” Colonel McDonald : “Have you been inside.” “LIKE NOAH’S DOVE” Mr Wright: “Then he became a vice-president and wanted to stand as a candidate, but the Labour Party have some abominable rule—(laughter)—by which if you stand against a Labour candidate you cannot be a Labour candidate for six years. The lion, member for Wairarapa then said, ‘There is nothing doing here,’ and he resigned from the Labour Party.' He wandered about like the dove out of Noah’s Ark, and could find no rest for the sole of liis foot.” (Laughter.) At length, however, Colonel McDonald got his chance and was elected to Parliament. Mr Wright submitted that Colonel McDonald had boxed the compass. “If he had not got into the United Party lie would have stood for Ihe Prohibitionists,” said Mr Wright, amidst laughter. Colonel ..McDonald: “Not if you were connected with them.”

When Mr Wright had finished liis speech Colonel McDonald rose to a point of order. “The lion, member for Wellington Suburbs has misrepresented me,” lie said. Reform voices: “He could not. do that.” Colonel McDonald said that, lie had never denied having been a member of the Labour Party. (Reform laughter.) “1 have no reason to deny it, and I have no reason to regret it,” lie proceeded. Mr Samuel: “You denied it in the House.” Colonel .McDonald: “It came up at the election in the Wairarapa, and it was made perfectly plain there.” Air Samuel: “You denied it here.” Colonel McDonald: “It cannot be said that I have denied it.” He gave an emphatic denial to the statement that lie had stood for selection as a Reform candidate.

Air Samuel: “I hope so.” Colonel McDonald said that if Mr Wright was prepared to give the name of the gentleman who signed the telegram which Mr Wright had referred to he would deal with that, (Laughter.) He had made an announcement of his intention to stand for Patea in (he Reform interest. Mr Samuel: ‘‘Thank God, they did not have you !” Colonel McDonald said that he had explained when standing for Wellington East that a Air Cox, an old comrade of his, had sent him a telegram stating that, without his knowledge or consent, he had mentioned his name at a meeting of the Reform Party. That was all that was ever done. Colonel McDonald denied that he had had no place, to place his foot. He was proceeding to make a reference io Mr Wright’s anatomy when Air Speaker intervened, and the discussion closed.