PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1923, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

A CHANCE FOR EXTINCTION. “Not half the Liberals believe in proportional represent;!t ion,” declared the lion C. .1. Parr in the Mouse today, adding that II they were grouped in big electorates they knew it meant political extinction. Air Wiiford: Give us a chance to introduce a Bill. Mr. Parr: If we Hid. where would you heZ You would he out (laughter). Mr At more generally suggested that the Minister ought to vote for such a Hill, if he really thought it would result in Liberal extinction. FOUR. PER CENT. LOAN ANALYSED Tile leader of the Opposition suggested to tilt- Mouse to-dnv that the re-ent four million loan at -I per cent, was not a four per cent, loan at all. Mr Massey : I never said it is. Mr Milford's rejoinder was that the i ( nntry resounded with expressions of Government triumph over this loan, which only returned £92 for £lO9, thus working, out at £M 7s per cent. II the Government repaid if at the end of ten years it must add another 13s to tile £1(1'). so it would have been better to lie 11 uit<> frank and call it a 5 per i lit. loan. Tin- deductions lie had enumerated meant £31)0.(199 oil the lour millions. Me also wanted to know how much of these millions tin- Prime Mini-tor brought hack tu Nov Zealand. The Mini-'terial rejoinder to - this i ritieism came from Mr Parr, who considered the leader ot the Opposition had not shown his usual genero ity in dealing with the Prime Minister’s siiceessf„T finance. There had been gloomy predictions when Afr Massey took over this responsibility, but lie claimed that tin- results ampiy justified it. A reduction of two millions m taxation had been made possible through improved conditions, and it was highly desirable to make reductions in income tax. liecause it amounted, as Air Asquith had said, to a for of modified levy on capital win'll it. reached over 7s in the £. No doubt there were sections of ilnHouse who would even object to (his. Labour members: Sure.

UFAL PERSONALITY. AVliile the first session of the present Parliament, was in determine whether tile Government had a majority. Air Holland. leader of the Labour i’arty. suggested to-night that tile dominant purpose of the present session wn- to de- , ide whether Mr Massey should attend tin- Imperial Conference. Incidentally some other tilings were to be done. ’I lie Minister lmd only avoided detent. by tlie aid of members elected to oppose the I tovei iniu'iit, v. bo threw m their |.,i, with the Government nil noconfidence motions. This, lie emit initial, was a quc-linn which the Mouse would have to lace. “M'e have," lie continued. “the remarkable spectacle ol members sitting on the Opposition hen(hes voting confidence in the Government everv time." (.Ministerialists: “Hear. hear."). “They may lie oiltitled til do it.” added Mr Holland, “hut the day has got to come when the Hou-0 will decide if any member is entitled to two personalities, one a Reform personality, the other a Liberal personality. Me will determine the position of a member by the way he votes on no confidence motions, ami if he votes with the Government he must certainly be linked as a mem wr .:! the Movement party, not of the Opposition. 1 am afraid if we adopted that method of judging pretty well the whole Liberal party would be ranked as Government supporters.’