SCENE IN HOUSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 476, 9 March 1933, Page 5

SCENE IN HOUSE

("Post" Speeial Commissioner) .

member's charge QUESTIONABLE TACTICS ARE ALLEGED AGAINST CHAIRMAN THE CALL OF TIME

Wellington, f Wednesday. An allegation that the Chairman of the Education Coxnmittee of the ' House (Mr. W. A. Bodkin) had used questionable tactics to secure a vote : favourable to the Government during committee proceedings, was made by Rev. Clyde Carr (Labour, Tixnaru), to-nig-ht when the committee reported that it had no reeommendation to malce in regard to a petition that children under the age of six years be not excluded froxxi schools. The committee stated that its re~ comxnendation was based on the : ground that the petition involved a I matter of Governmeixt poliey. Mr. Carr said when the motion was ; moved that the petition be referred ! to the Government for favourable eonsideration, the chairman had pulled out hxs watch and had remarked that as it was 2.30 p.m., the committee could not continue sitting without speeial permission. Mr. Carr said he pointed out that it was not then 2.25 p.xn. The Minister of

Native AfFairs (Sir Apirana Ngata) , then indicated that as the 'Government poliey was -involved the only thing to do was to talk the matter out. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avondale) said that j the. statement that '

the resolution had been "bull dosed" G. W. Fqj-L's through committee was disconcerting. Premier's Statement The Pxdme Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said it was always undei'stood as far as committees were eoncerned, that party feeling should be laid aside and matters judged entirely on their merits. "When one hears speeches xnade by xxiexnbers of a committee full of party bias, how can the Government aeeept them as unbiased judges?" he said. 'An attempt had been made to mako pax-ty capital out of the ixiatter." The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. II. E. Holland), said that although there was a majority on the committee in favour of a favourable reeommendation, influence was used to prevent that decision being reachcd. Wherevei- a matter of Government poliey was connected, it was futile to petition Parliament because tbe Government would bring pressure to bear on its majority on the committee to bring in the reeommendation tbe Government desired. He moved that the report be referred baelc to the coxnmittee for further eonsideration. Higher Note Needed Mr. A. J. Stall-

worthy (Ind. Eden) said it was tixne there was a higher xxote iix the administratioxx of Parliamentary affairs. Citizens should be entitled to rely on What was termed "the highest eourt in the land."

Mx\ Bodkin said A. J. Stallworthy that he had to take exception to the remarlcs of the xnexnber for Timaru. The coixxmittee had met on February 7, but oVing to the fact tlxat other membex's were engaged, it adjourned on February 17. Eig'ht xixembers wero present. There was a majority for the Government, but eonsideration was deferred on February 21 and on March 2 and a final meeting was held on March 4. Adjouxmments had been taken because there were not full meetings axxd it was admitted that it was a matter whare- there would be a trial of strength. "I would not lend myself to any attempt to secure unfair advantage of any member," he said. Moving of Motion Mi\ Bodkin said that he moved that in view of the amendment to the law, the committee had no x'eeoiximendation to malce. In moving the motion he had been influenced also by the fact that no witnesses had appeared. Mr. Bodkin said that his motion was lost after which it was moved that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable eonsideration. His watch showed the. tirne as 2.30 p.xn. and he had stated that the committee could not discuss the xxxatter fui'ther oxx aceount of the tirne lxaving arrived for the House to asseixxble. Mr. Carr had said it was not 2.30 p.m., and pointed oixt that the bells had not rung.

Mr. Bodkin said be was prepared to put fcbe motion when ihe Minister of Native Affairs moved an amendment whicb was finally carriejdh It was stated quite frankly that it was a party measure. Mr. J. Bitchener (Governnxexxt, Waitaki), said he "was- surprised at the attitude taken by a gentleman of Mr. Carr's cloth. Mr. Carr: Will 'the hon. gentleman withdraw the reference to my profession? Tho Spealcer: I heard the. reniark and called him to order, but I did not thinlc it neccssary to ask him to withdraw it. On the Speaker's suggestion, Mr. Bitchener withdrew the remarlc. Mr. Holland's xxxotion was defeated by 44 votes to 22 votes.