“STUPID AND SENSEESS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 175, 14 October 1927, Page 16

“STUPID AND SENSEESS”

MR. HOLLAND DENOUNCES LATE SITTINGS PARLIAMENT’S WEARY HOURS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. “This is a stupid and senseless method of doing the country’s business,” said Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, across the floor of the chamber in the House of Representatives last night, after a few minutes’ fruitless endeavour to secure an understanding with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, as to how far the House would go at this sitting on the Customs Amendment Bill. Mr. Coates wanted the House to go on and see how things progressed, promising not to sit too late, but this did not suit the Leader of the Opposition, who said: “This is no good to me. I want an understanding.” The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Mlnisted of Customs, said that he understood it was arranged that the whole schedule should be put through tonight. Mr. Holland: No arrangement was made with my party. Reform members from various quarters of the House cried “Get them through. Let it go.” Mr. Holland turned angrily upon the back benchers on the Government side and retorted: “If Reform members are going to adopt this unfair and discourteous attitude I want to tell them that they will not get it through tonight. I do not want to approach the Prime Minister in any antagonistic way, but ——” Mr. Coates: Oh, let us get along. It is evident we are not going to sit late. Mr. Holland: How far are you going? Mr. Coates: Use our good sense and! judgment, and we will get along, and you will be satisfied. Mr. Holland: This is no good. I want an understanding. Mr. Coates (consulting his watch): The night is young. Mr. Holland: This is a stupid and senseless method of doing the conntry’s business. . I am sent here to carry it out in a responsible manner, but here we have reached nearly 1 o’clock in the morning and are carrying on with a bare quorum, and half of them asleep. Mr. Coates: Oh, no. Mr. Holland: Well, I am not going to be a party to it. Mr. Coates and Mr. Holland argued for some minutes across the chamber, but no settlement could be reached. Finally Mr. Coates crossed over to Mr. Holland’s bench while the discussion proceeded on the schedule of the tariff. Mr. Stewart was explaining about an arrangement that, he said, had been made, when Mr. W. A. Veitcii intenrupted: “Speak up; we cannot hear what the Minister is saying.” Mr. Stewart (just about fed upl; You are not missing much.