PASSAGES AT ARMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 192, 23 November 1910, Page 7

PASSAGES AT ARMS

MR. JENNINGS AND THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS.

The debate in the House of Representatives on Friday morning on the Railways Authorisation Bill was marked by several passages between members and Ministers. The most open break was between Mr. Jennings and the Minister for Public Works (Hon. R. McKenzie}. Mr. Jennings had been criticising the refusal of the Government to commence the construction of the Stratford-Ongarue line at the Ongarue end, and threatened to test the feeling of the House with a resolution at tlie proper time. Mr. McKenzie was evidently not pleased. He advised Mr. Jennings to get on with his no-confidence motion whenever he liked. He had had grave doubts whether Mr. Jennings had not been on the wrong side of the House for many years. Mr. Jennings: Very good of you to say that. Mr. McKenzie concluded by advising Mr. Jennings to get on the back Opposition benches as soon as he liked.

Mr. Jennings rose. to a personal explanation. "The Minister for Public Works, with his characteristic gentlemanly conduct, had the temerity to say that I could not express my opinion on the floor of the House. So far as he is concerned, and his gentlemanly demeanour, I will not yield to him in any way whatsoever in expressing the wishes or my constituents."

Mr. McKenzie objected that this was not a personal explanation. Mr. Jennihgs said he would not consult Mr. McKenzie or any other member of the House as to what his duty was.

Earlier in the evening there was a passage concerning the tenancy of the Waikato seat. Mr. Poland (Ofoinemuri) said that Mr. Greenslade had threatened, if the Minister for Public Works insisted upon the local bodies 'giving £3OOO towards the cost of the Huntly bridge, to resign his heat and contest it again. Sir Joseph Ward said if such a statement had been made the answer of the Government would have been, "By all means resign."

Mir. Massey: That would suit you, would it not ?

Mr. Greenslade: I did not say that. Sir Joseph Ward said that as far as he knew Mr .Greenslade had never said that to the Government, and the Government would not allow itself to be influenced in such a manner.