COMING SESSION

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1930, Page 4

COMING SESSION

A LABOUR VIEW

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

INVERCARGILL, -March 5. At a meeting here to-night, Mr D ; G. Sullivan, Labour M.P. for Avon,

said that it was somewhat difficult for him, as a Member of Parliament, to discuss at present such a delicate matter as the political situation. Ihe question on everyones lips was: What is going to happen? He would say that, if the present Government could emerge through the coming session, it would he one o'f the wonders in the political history of New /''aland. The forthcoming session would he a making one. The introduction had all been completed, and the Government must bring down its legislation. In nis opinion, it seemed a very difficult matter for the Prime Minister to steer his ship successfully through the rocks and shoals abounding everywhere. They al! knew of the illness of Sir Joseph

Ward, and the whole country regretted it; hut despite the optimistic note sounded, it was extremely difficult for him to steer his party, especially if He could not be nresent in the House as its leader. Without his presence there, it was impossible for the Un’ted Party to survive.

Mr S’ulliivan predicted that once the United' Party lost Sir Joseph Ward, it would collapse like a paefc of cards. In addition to the of Mr Wilford,- who, the speaker said, had been a tower of strength to the Party, there was dissention in the Party itself. ‘ Tile defection of three members, who iccently dissociated themselves from the Party on the grounds that they had no further confidence in it, must be a severe blqw even to a strong Party, and as they, all knew, the Uni fed Government was a- minority Party, only able to retain power by reason of the Oppos'cmr*. being divided into two bostil 0 camps Mr Sullivan referred to the expulsion of Mr Davy and the resignations

of the Secretary of the Party, Mr Pone, and the organiser Mr Moller and said that a. big gap had teen created by their d ssension. Th is he said, tlie Government had lost m.'ehef its prestige", and they void! realise how difficult, it would be for ,it- to go through its full term. Mr Sullivan added that the Samoan difficulty had been accentuated bv tb* oolicy of the Government in' resorting to force. He believed th? whole country was more or less ashamed of the poliev the Government had pursued. and this view was held by all, irrespective of heir political wie.vs.