RUFFLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 191, 2 November 1927, Page 9

RUFFLED

A Sleepy Debate

APPEAL TO CHAIR MR. COATES CALLED TO ORDER (THE SUX'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTOX. Tuesday. | The feathers of Opposition members i in the House of Representatives were ruffled this evening: by a little incident which, like a zephyr on a mid-summer day, puffed up and was gone, leavingtranquility and quietude in its wake. The House had throughout the afternoon and part of the evening settled to a sleepy debate on the final stages of the Rural Intermediate Credits Bill when Mr. W. A. Veitch, Wanganui, rose to criticise the merits of the Prime Minister’s remarks. Mr. Coates interjected several times, till Mr. Veitch became riled. “I don't like this offensive manner of the Prime Minister,” he said, and when Mr. Coates persisted Mr. Veitch called upon Mr. F. F. Hockly, Chairman of Committees, for protection. “Please proceed with your speech,” said Mr. Hockly. Mr. Veitch: Perhaps you can control the Prime Minister while I do. Mr. Coates waxed sarcastic at Mr. Veitch’s failure to understand what he had said previously. “I would like him to listen this time,” he said. “He makes his little speech and then runs away like a tin hare. He has got into the habit of misrepresenting”—it was then that the commotion occurred. Mr Hockly called a warning to the Prime Minister that the word “misrepresented” was unparliamentary, while Mr. H. Atmore and Mr. G. W. Forbes both rather peeved at the difficulty Mr. Veitch was having with Mr. Coates rose to call points of order. Mr. Hockly: I have already told the Prime Minister that he was out of order. Mr. J. McCombs: We are not going to stand for that sort of thing. Mr. Fraser: I suggest that the course to follow is to ask the Prime Minister to withdraw and express his regrets (Reform protests.) Mr. McCombs, rising in his seat, said: The Prime Minister is not going to get away with a word in his ear that he must not offend. Mr. Hockly became angry and sternly ordered Mr. McCombs back to his seat. “The lion, member is out of order in addressing the chair in that manner,” he-said sharply. “I did not speak into the ear of the Prime Minister. I used similar conduct to that used by me usually in the chair. Mr. Coates: I am sorry I should be the cause of all this trouble. I withdraw and say that the member for Wanganui unintentionally misrepresented the position. Mr. Veitch assured the House that he did not want to cause trouble. He knew Mr. Coates had a difficult job and might be a very tired man, “but he could have allowed me to express myself. So far as his reference to myself running away like a tin hare is concerned I think the House will not thank him for this expression as a contribution toward its dignity.”