DISCORD RUMOURS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 6

DISCORD RUMOURS

MEMBERS ABSENT FRcftl CAUCUS

differences in COALITION

party

' WELLINGTON, September 26. All doe? not appear to be well in thq Coalition camp. With a return to the normal working of the Parliamentary machine, it had' been expected that tlie. danger of discord among the rank and fi-.e, which the. promotion of emergency legislation of an unpleasant character accentuated, had been definitely removed ; but' the lobbies, are already resound-, ing. with tlie revival of rumours, and speculations, eMilar which fgst' sess.iofl encouraged belief that; a political cave was libelv to develop in the/Government pafty! -:.0 Whether there will be a similar move-; ment this session remains to be seen.;-; buf it is stated that, on several' t, gues': the Government is likely to find itself at variance with some of its foliowing. More than one member is .said to, be behind Mr" A. H, Samuel, the. mem-, her- for Thames, in the dissatisfaction, lie has expressed over the position; of the .pensions of miners’ widows, wftichcease at. the end of the mouthy and it is known that issue will be joined with Cabinet over the extension by the, Minister of Education, of. the school textbook contract. ~ Another known cause-of dissatisfaction is the holding of the portfolio of. Education, by a member of; the-(Legisla-tive Council, /fn this connection, Mr H. S; S. Kyle member for Riccarton, -stated' last week : “I. am ready, to vote Rim out to-morrow. T|ffe, principle ‘ft ' tlrfe thing is not right.’*: ' <The latest development of importance and it may be! a-straw in The political wind— -relates 'to the. caucus _ of’ : the Coalition' Party which was held yesterday; The official report ’stated a.U. members had attended, but it is now revealed that there were two notable defections, Mr Samuel and. Mr A. J. Stallworthy, member for 'Eden, both of ’ whom deliberately absented themselves'from the meeting.

It' is reliably understood that these members declined "to sign th e formal notice convening the •' meeting. Messrs Samuel and Stallwojthy take strong exception'to; the statement that The caucus was’ unanimous, and resent sfhe implication that they were necessarily associated'with any or all of the .resolutions 'passed. ' It will be remembered thta on several occasions last session the member for Thames and the member for Eden were associated with other members ;in opposing major items, of the Government’s policy, but no steps were taken by the Prime 'Min-, is ter or Mr, Coates, as leader of. the Reform group,, to discipline any Of the party who voted, in opposition.

.Members, who find, their views in occasional conflict with Cabinet’,s decisions ,need 4 not- necessarily absent, thamsolyes from* caucuses of "the party, particularly the opening; gathering of the seas ion when a rough outline is. given- qf legislation to "be brought 1 ' down. Signife.. cance, therefore, attaches- to. the absence from yesterday’s, caucus ofi the. two members named. Lobby auticipationp are that a clearer, definition, of their intentions and ‘uture attitude , may be looked for before the conclusion of tho Adrlress-in-Reply. debate. Commenting on the absence of Moists •Stallwoithy and Samuel from the Coalition caucus, Mr Forbes stated thi? afternoon that he had not been advised, that either member would be absent, and he did not agree that, it was unusual for members not to attend , the: opening caucuses. ~ ’Sometimes feelingexisted and members did not attend; having notified the Whips to that effect; ‘

“I have had no advice that Messrs Samuel and Staliwortby deliberately absented themselves frohi the gathering.”, said Mr Forbes/ “a ad I attach no significance to their absence unless they had officially ’'intimated to me that they wished to dissociate themselves from the party.” * ;