PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I NEW HOUSING SCHEME. A MEMBER SUSPENDED. / „ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo), the Hon. W. Nosworthy said increased charges to friendly society patients at Government health resorts would not be made retrospective. Replying to Mr. C. Mackenzie (Auckland East), the Hon. Sir R. H. Rhodes said there was no difficulty in soldiers in hospital getting their weekly allowance raised from 10s to 20s if the circumstances warranted it. They had only to make application. Replying to Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands), the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said Cabinet had been considering The question of granting additional permits for the purchase of kauri gupi. He was hopeful that operations could be resumed almost at once. The following Bills were introduce# by the Hon. W. D. Stewart and read a first time:—Public Holidays Amendment Bill, Counties Amendment Bill, and the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill. The Minister explained that the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill and the Counties Amendment Bill were merely of a technical nature, and. would give effect to certain recommendations by the respective conferences. The Hon. W. D. Stewart gave notice of his intention to introduce, the Grey Collection Exchange Bill. In laying on the table a return showing the sheep owned in the Dominion, the Minister of Agriculture said the decrease in sheep since the last return was laid on the table was in the neighbourhood of *OO,OOO. PREMIER ON HOUSING. Discussing the report of the Labor Department, which embraced the question of 'housing, Mr. Massey admitted that mqre houses were required to keep pace with the natural increase in me population of the Dominion. He, however, thought that the best way to supply the needs was for the Government to find the money for the erection of houses and hand it over to local bodies or private' individuals at a reasonable rate of interest, with a sinking fund, and letting them do the practical work of building, instead of the Government doing it. The Government was not able to closely watch details, 4 and houses sometimes cost more than they should. He then proceeded to describe a series of comfortable houses which he had an opportunity of inspecting in England, and which were built entirely of steel and concrete. This system of construction he thought most suitable to New Zealand, where we had an abundance of material suitable for the purpose, particularly in the North Island, where great quantities or scoria could be utilised,

Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), spoke of the scarcity of housing in Auckland, and pleaded with the Minister not to discontinue the rent restriction which he claimed did not prevent houses being built. As lie proceeded he was subject to repeated interruption by Mr. G. Potter (Roskill), who maintained that there were hundreds of empty houses in Auckland Jug» as Mr. Parry concluded Mr. Potter interjected: “You don’t know anything about it.” Mr. Parry retorted: “I know as much about is as scabs.” The Premier rose and said he had observed the expression used by Mr. Parry, and he asked that the term “scab” should be withdrawn. The Speaker asked Mr. Parry if he had used the tjrm complained of. to which Mr. Parry frahkly admitted that he had used it. 7 The Speaker: “Then I must ask the bon. member to withdraw it.” Mr. Parry: “I emphatically refuse to do so.” The Speaker pointed oqt that if the word was not withdrawn he must name the hon. gentleman. EFFORTS TO MAKE PEACE. The Premier interposed and suggested I that perhaps Mr. Parry would reconsider his decision. The Speaker also endeavored to throw oil on the troubled waters by intimating that Mr. Parry would have another opportunity to withdraw if he so decided. Nir. Parry: “I refuse to withdraw.” The Speaker then intimated to Mr. Parry that he must name him for disobeying the chair, 'and requested him to withdraw from the chamber while .the House deliberated upon his case. As Mr. Parry was leaving the chamber Air. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) asked the Speaker whether ho ruled that a member must not use the word “scab” generally, or only as applied to a member of the House. The Speaker said the word was unparliamentary as applied Vo a member of the House. Mr. Statham then raised a. point as to whether the word was intended to apply to a. member of the House. The Premier said he most certainly thought the member for Auckland Central had intended it to apply to a member of the House. Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), contended it was not so applied. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) pointed out that the Speaker had merely asked Mr. Parry if he had used an offending term, not whether he had applied it to a member of the House. THE MEMBER MISSING, As the result of the difference of opinion the sergeant-at-arms was sent 'to search for Mr. Parry, who was to be brought back to state to the House specifically to whom he intended the term “scab” to apply, but as a result of a search Mr. Parry could not be found and did not appear. Mr. Massey then rose and said it was his unpleasant duty to move a motion — a duty which fortunately he had not been called upon to discharge for several years. He moved that Mr. Parry - be suspended for the remainder of the 1 sitting. Mr. Holland said he hoped the motion would not bb carried until Mr. Parry had an opportunity to explain. Mr. Massey: “Well move the adjournment of the debate.” This Mr. Holland did, and the matter was shelved for a time and the debate was continued without further incident until 5.25 p.m., when the report was laid on the table' I Mr. Holland then asked leave to withi draw his motion to adjourn the debate, !on the motion to suspend Mr. Parry. This was ari’ead to. aaad on the T> *e-

mier’s motion being put it was carried, ’ and Mr. Parry was suspended for the remainder of the sitting. The House, rose at 11.50 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. There is no inferior or law grade tea used in Nelson Moate’s btaxds. They purchase direct through tho.ir own office in Ceylon, and their importations are Rheumo Rapidly Relieves Rheumatism by removing the cause. 2/0 and 4/6.