SIDE-STEPPING DENIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 138, 1 September 1927, Page 14

SIDE-STEPPING DENIED

EDUCATION MINISTER HITS BACK FATE OF BOARDS 1 THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. THE rumoured proposal for the abolition of education boards is still coming periodically under the notice of the House of Representatives, and the reply of the Minister of Education, Hon. R. A. Wright, to a question on the point involved him in a sharp attack this afternoon from Mr. W. E. Parry, Auckland Central, and other members, to which the Minister retaliated by some cutting remarks about Mr. Parry. But the answer which caused the trouble remained unamplifiedIn reply to Mr. W. S. Glenn. Rangitikei, the Minister stated that he had received no instructions from Cabinet to introduce any bill dealing with the status of education boards and school committees. As the hon. member was aware, all bills of a contentious nature, having reference to education matters, were referred to the Education Committee for consideration. This

committee, in common with all other select committees of the House, always gave ample opportunity to all citizens to appear before it and tender such evidence as might be thought necessary.

Mr. Parry said that it wa? a most extraordinary reply. “One is very tempted indeed to ask whether the Ministry is merely trifling with the House in the answer to this question. The Minister might at least have answered straight out.” The Prime Minister, Right Hon. J. G. Coates: What he says is a fact. Mr- Parry: Then the House must assume that this question has been discussed by Cabinet, but Cabinet has not given orders Mr. Coates: He doesn’t say so. “A HUGE JOKE" Mr. Parry: It is not the first time we have been treated in this way. The whole thing is a huge joke, and only shows how impossible it is even to get a straightforward answer. Mr. Coates: That is quite straightforward. Mr. Parry differed. “The Minister of Education sits there,” he said, ‘‘feeling pleased that he has side-stepped the House. Is he prepared to deny that there is going to be interference with education boards? Mr. Coates: He has answered the question. Mr. Glenn, too, thought that the reply was not quite adequate. GUESS AGAIN Mr W. J. Jordan, Manukau: The Minister keeps saying. “It isn’t so-and-so. Guess again.” Is it the intention of the Minister to allow any interference in this matter? It isn’t dignified, to say the least of it, to play around with these catchwords and answer a question without answering it The Minister: The hon. members for Auckland City and for Hurunui both referred to this question, and both discussed it in a courteous way. They are entitled at least to the thanks of ihe House for bringing the matter up. It remained for the member for Auckland Central to take up the position of the man with the big stick, and begin to attack Cabinet generally, saying that the question was answered in such a way as to make it appear that the Minister and the Government w'ere trifling with the House. Mr. Parry: So they are. Mr. Wright: There has been no trifling with the House. Is any Government to be called upon by members at any time to make declarations about things that are or are not in existence? Mr. Parry: Yes! Mr- Wright: What are the forms of this House for . . . A Voice: What about answering before the time is up? Mr. Wright: lam not going to be dragged at the chariot wheels of members of this Jft>use. I'm going to answer the question in my own way. The hon. member said that I shielded myself behind the Cabinet . . . Mr. Parry: So you did. Mr. Wright: I did nothing of the kind! This and every other Government demands that a Minister shall have Cabinet’s authority to introduce a bill. Mr. Wright proceeded to read the question asked by Mr. Glenn, and his answer to it. Mr. E. A. Ransom, Pahiatua: He’s stonewalling! TOO OBTUSE Mr. Wright: I say that there is no trifling with the House, and the hon. member is not justified in saying so. If he knew his position as a member of this House he would not say such things. The hdn. gentleman has not enough sense to see that it is an answer to the question. He is obtuse. Mr. Parry: Go on, and answer the question! Mr. Wright: I repeat, the hon. gentleman cannot understand the question. He’s too obtuse. Mr. Parry: What about answering the question now? Mr. Ransom: Are the boards to be abolished? Mr. Wright: The hon. gentleman is incapable, I say, of understanding the English language. Mr. G. W. Forbes, Hurunui: Then turn it into French! Mr. Jordan: Yes, be amusing if you can’t answer! Mr. Wright said that Mr. Parry should feel discomfited. Mr. Parry: I woke you up, anyhowMr. Wright: The hon. gentleman should bear in mind that the Government is doing its best to give what information it can to hon. members. At this point the time arrived for the tea adjournment, and the Minister's remarks were interrupted.