Politicians Snore Under Dimmed Lights

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 440, 23 August 1928, Page 11

Politicians Snore Under Dimmed Lights

SLEEPY PARLIAMENT MR. LEE STARTS A “SCRAP” {THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) "VI ELLINGTON, To-day. Lively passages, in which the Auckland members, Mr. J. A. Lee and Mr. A. Harris, figured prominently, were a feature of the protracted committee debate in the House of Representatives last evening over Mr. H. E. Holland’s proposal to indicate the need for an overhaul of Parliamentary methods. Mr. Lee pointed out that Reform members often found it as comfortable to sleep on their benches as in their beds, and consequently were able to turn up fresh for committee work in the mornings. One had to get used to talking to an accompaniment of snores. As for Labour members holding up business, he quoted occasions when the only speakers to motions were Reformers or Liberals. “A whole potful of boiled rice and not a single raisin.” (Laughter.) Mr. Harris said that it was unbecoming of Mr. Lee to talk that way. If it was his intention to imply that members neglected their duty by sleeping in the Chamber, then he was being extremely unjust. Such criticism was not desirable and such an impression was entirely wrong. Mr. Lee was the only Labourite who indulged in such tactics. He would find those tactics did not pay. Mr. Lee said that it might not be politic to comment as he had done, but it was the truth that members were often asleep on their benches. If the member for Waitemata hoped to win his election by ignoring facts he would get a surprise when the numbers went up. Mr. Harris: I don’t want to win by misrepresentation. Mr. Lee: I will win mine by stating facts. He added that Mr. Harris knew, as he knew, that the lights of the Chamber had been, on at least one occasion, turned low so as not to inconvenience sleeping members, while, to serve the same purposes, speakers had even lowered their voices. The Hon. A. D. McLeod joined in the attack on Mr. Lee, whose remarks reminded him of tinkling cymbals and sounding brass, if not of sounding tin. It would not be surprising if members went to sleep when Mr. Lee was speaking. Mr. E. J. Howard said that the Minister would not say anything like that in his more gentlemanly moments. Mr. Lee, replying, said that Mr. McLeod was the dullest, dreariest, stodgiest and most sterile of speakers, and the most unimaginative of Ministers. He was like Rip Van Winkle, who went to sleep for a lifetime and was never missed. Mr. J. McCombs recollected that he was once allowed to speak in committee stages for 17 minutes, because even the chairman had nodded his head. Mr. F. F. Hockly, chairman, at once ordered Mr. McCombs to sit down, saying that no member must bring the name of the chairman, no matter who ho happened to be, into the debate. Mr. P. Fraser said that it was curious that Mr. Harris waxed so righteously indignant because Mr. Lee had stated a simple fact. Perhaps Mr. Harris himself had never been asleep, but probably he might as well have been. When the debate seemed about to collapse Mr. A. M. Samuel renewed it. “At one time,” he said, “it seemed as though this was a private argument between Mr. Lee and Mr. Harris, but since then it has developed into a public ‘scrap,’ and I’m going to take the opportunity of getting into it. It’s long past my usual bedtime, and if I don't I shall fall asleep and be accused of snoring. Mr. Lee’s statement about members was not at all dignified. There is such a thing as playing cricket and not to playing to the gallery.” Thus the discussion continued far into the night. Laughable in the early stages it later grew very tedious.