QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1931, Page 2

QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED

NATION At:;. COV ERNME NT.

MR COATES, A|ND LABOUR party; '' •;;;

WELLINGTQN, August 5

' “Don’t you’ think 'the position is so serious that a . 'National. Government might be considered ?” infterjected Mr Samuel (Reform,; Thames)', and th? question directed to Hr Coates towards' the epcl of his finknqial speech in' - th G House Mr Coats’s answer" involyqd him, iff P lively exchange Party, but left still 'in tlie dark tlie attitude of either patty tpwards tffe proposal. •, The Prime Minister said that he had not heard the Labour Party say it was in favour of a National .Government. “A? far as primary industry is; concerned,” theßeform Leader said, “the position calls' for a unjted effort by everyone. (Hpar, )mar.). I tad It is coming down on us, and the nefttywr or'tWd iif golhg 'tp bp tnopt seripps;'' >;A\iaWr member: We ?er» pot asked to join in .a National government. ■ • ,• /;) :.r ; Another labour , member: Rcfform wps ••invited, I We were not. Coates: Is the leader of thp Lftb; our.'Pprty 'in favour 1 of forming ,a National Govcrmnant P' . Party pay/ : : y ' •Mr Spates! Is the labour Party in fay our; pf 'it P Mr.; IJollknd: . W’h 1 the leader of the Opppaition extend us an invitation on bbhaff of the Government ?' • Mir Coates •?. Does the leader of the Labour 1 Party say - ho' will , make ono and hi? party will follow him join *i]dvicinping ..a National Govern?me|t to' help to relieve the problems of thejVproducers of this country? :H • fIS IT AN INVITATION ? , -Mr Holland: Is this an invitation? Mr Cpates: AVould you join such a mo’Vpnientf .--G ' 'Mr Holland : Is the Reform Party' joining it ? , ' 'Miv-ippateß:;. I am asking you that qupstip^CriV vV ’< J ■ •:•• •;-■ , ‘Mr Holland And I pni - asking you. .riext statement raised '. a loud - Uugh. “I hope,” lie' “that I will ml Ways he found in this position • * v >?. .. . s/_\‘ ; ■ # .. •> ,• "Hear, hears, apd laughter from the Government and the Labour benches prevented him (from proceeding fpither.;; . , ~l 'Mr'Coates was not slow to appreciate < the slip and to pass it off .with.;,a cheerful, “Thiit'was an unfortunate remark.’ ? ' ,-f. v .k, - ■ ,••..■!• iy v «©^^tr^tg^th« , * ; Op^ , - said that as. long '; as he was in . the . House, no firhtter what side oMtji he hoped it would be taken for granted that' for hia part, no. inffivulimkconsidefattion of his would ever stadd in the way pf placing , the interests !of the country . above those df any. interests of party.; E. (Rhfprm “Hear, hears,“) RbfprJn placed"the interests of . the ' coimtry first.-• ;• : ■i : • ■• - . Mr-iangstope: No more than any other party;” •> • '* ' “Lodging the question.” Mr • Contesßut you are not. in the samp position. If Mr Holland says he is prepared to meet'.'and discuss the problems rahead I am prepared to meet and discuss them with him. Would you agree to a National Government? I notice Labour members won’t answer a diredt' question. They are dodging the question', "v Mr Parry: Are ; you in favour of. a National Government ?■ / ■. . ... ' Mr/Holland (to Mr Coates) : : If you ea y you ore extending an invitation we will answer it in double quick time hut .fin invitation has never been extended to’iis. ‘ Mr CoiV.es; 1 did not hear the m-

terjection. - Mr O’Brien: New Zealand has pnt this ’question to you Tor six- months nnd you have not answered it yot. Mr Coates said ..that, if', ith© Labour Party were prepared to discuss the problem, that was all right.; ‘ • Mr Parry: We are discussing it here aren’t we ? . * • . <

“GET BEHIND THE

GOVERNMENT.”

the National Government ■wre revived by the Minister of Lands the Hon. M, A. Ransom, who smilingly cot .'merited on the nearer approach of the views of Mr Coates towards those of the Government in regard to backblocks roads and expenditure for lands devolpment. He believed that- - when it came to the question of National Gov eminent there would be np obstacles to crossing the fkxnvof the House. “1 nm very pleased to see the Leader of the Opposition coming to our view, favour ug the use of part of the petrol tax for the benefit of country ratepayers,” the' Minister said.. “I hope he has the backing of liis party and that they would stand by this if it is recommended by the select committee.’” Mr Contes: That is not the point. Tou are dodging the issue. Mr Ransom added that lie was interested in tho exchange off thought between Mr Coates and Mr Holland on the subject of ithe National Government. He noticed that Mr,Coates did not extend an invitation to/the Government side of the House hut the country knew where the Government stood on this question. ‘‘lt realises” he said .♦‘that we cannot hope to pass through

this crisis, and reach the culminati n unless every inemoer of the House put-; his shoulder into it.” Mr Samuel (Reform, Thames): Do you favour a National Government and would you ask the Labour Party to join? . Mr Ransom: Yes, any party which will get behind the Government to push the coimtry along. ■Mr Parry (Labour, Auckland Central)-:. To push them out.