PARTY WARFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1926, Page 10

PARTY WARFARE

REFORMERS AT VARIANCE

MOTOR OMNIBUS BILL

ATTITUDE OF ME. HABEIS,

The end of a session usually brings jangled nervea to members of Parliament, and "explosions" are naturally to be expected. Last night it was evident that certain of the occupants of the Reform benches did not see eyo to eye, and some of tho Labour members were also obi edge with one another. Tho MotorOmnibus Traffic Bill was the cause of the general dissension. While the lobbies are full of rumours as to rumblings of discord amongst the Opposition, most interc:t .contres in' the castigation which the Hon. W. Downie Stewart last night inflicted on Mr. A. Harris, Beform member for Waitemata, for his contumacy over the Motor-bus Bill. Some of the Beform members hold the opinion that the charges mado by' Mr. Harris are serious enough to warrant some attention at the next caucus of the Government Party, should one be hold before the session comes tc an end, which at the moment seems unlikely, as it is "thought that the business of Parliament will be concluded late on Friday night, or early on Saturday morning, and this will not leave much time for having some healthy discussions in caucus. In addition to Mr. Harris, some members of the Reform Party express the opinion that Mr. Glenn, the Junior' Whip of the-Party, has delivered himself of sentiments during the session which cannot be considered orthodox from the party standpoint, and that he, too, ought to say exactly where he stands. "I think," said one Beformer this morning, "that we shall have to find seats for these two gentlemen on the other side of the House*" On the other hand, it is pointed out that the Beform Party, because of its considerable numbers, must necessarily have something in the way of a "tail," which will insist on wagging itself occasionally, but not to such an extent as can possibly endanger the stability of the party. At the same time, some of the Eeform members who were spoken to today did not attempt to hide their sentiments at the way caucus meetings of the party were conducted. It was asserted that while full and free discussion was allowed, the. usual result was for some member to assure the Prime Minister that, despite differences of opinion, the members as a whole were behind him, and after this had happened it was futile for members opposed to a certain course of procedure to give vent to therr feelings. So far as the Motor Omnibus Bill is concerned it is stated that the Prime Minister is determined that it shall be "booted" through in its present form, and-that no material amendments will be considered. At any rate, it is said that that was his attitude at the la3t caucus of the party where the Bill was discussed. The Motor Omnibus Bill is to be put through its Committee stage to-day, and this is likely to prove interesting. Befusing to recant anything he said last night, which sentiments brought down on his head the displeasure of tho Minister of Finance, Mr. Harris intends to move some 40 amendments. He also proposes to reply to what the Hon. W. Downie Stewart said last night regarding his position in tho party. It is understood that so far as party caucuses are concerned Mr. Harris proposes to reserve to himself full liberty of action. Some doubts have arisen as to whether the Agricultural College Bill will be gone on with this.session. There are divergences of opinion over the matter, and the Prime Minister stated the other day that the Government was not going to waste any time over the Bill, which would be dropped if there was likely to be any prolonged discussion.