PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 104, 18 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY AMENITIES

I THE PR'JMK MINISTER AND MR WILFORD. By Telegraph—Own Correspondent, Wellington, Last Night. During the course of the proceedings in the House this afternoon Mr. Massey, in answer to an inquiry, said that the Land Bill would be brought down at tie end at this week.

Mr. Colvin asked why in proposing to take Wednesday for ('iovernment business the Government was killing Mr, Hunter's Gaming Amendment Bill. Mr. Wilford said that the Prime Minister waited on him on this subject. He had cooed to them and pulled their kgs declaring that it was a serious and' weighty problem. It would be much better if they put the Gaming Bill into the hands of a private member, in which case the Government would promise to give it a fair chance to go through, Mr. Massey had stated to the deputation. .(Laughter). ''Why did not the Government deal honestly with those people?" asked Mr. Wilford. "I tell you what this country wants. It wants a Ministry that will tell some men to go to the devil. If our party got in we would do it." A Member: Which is vour party? Mr. Wilford: H i* easy to laugh, but I say there are men on this side of the House who pan say it. My colleague, the late Minister fo; Defence, did it, and he also proved his ability to say "No" when he was asked to give Wellington a railawy station in his capacity as Minis-' ter for Railways. This country is asking for a body of men to take hold of things and say "No," and that is the end of it. ■ " The Prime Minister said that memebrs knew there was not the slightest chance of the Gaming Bill passing this session. Mr. Wilford: Whv? Mr Massey said that Mr. Wilford had attacked the Government, but he did not think the lion, gentleman intended to be serious. Mr. Wilford had endeavoured to say that the Government was shirking its responsibilities in respect to the licensing and gaming questions. Mr. Wilford: It looks like it, Mr. During the time I have been in Parliament I have never run away from a division.

Mr. 'Wilford: What about Mr. Fisher's amendment on the abolition of the Legislative Council? You did not vote. " Mr. Massey: I don't remember the occation. Mr. Wilford: I will give you it. Mr._ Massey: I will repeat that during the time I have been in Parliament I have never run away from a division. Mr. Wilford quoted from Hansard of 1011 to show that Mr. Massey had spoken on the subject but was absent from the division. Mr. Massey: I don't say that I was present in the House on every division. Mr. Wilford: But this shows that you ran away. Mr. Massey said that if he was absent it was for some good re.ison. and speaking more generally he said he was never in favour of the abolition of the Legislative Council.