FURTHER CUTS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1933, Page 7

FURTHER CUTS

LABOUR MEMBER’S FORECAST FOR NEXT YEAR.

WELLINGTON, February 16. A prediction that further cuts in pensions would be made next sessions ol Parliament, and that a .few months before the next General Election, the f?bvernment would increase wages slightly was mad e by Mr J. O'Brien (Labour, Westland) during the debate on the Sales Tax Bill in the House ol ■v [Representatives yesterday.

Mr O’Brien said that there was A definit e effort "being made by the Coalition leaders to precipitate New Zealand into the depths of the depression. This wrs being done so that they could come along a few months befor e the next election—if there ever was to be another election— and give slight increases in wages, pensions and social services. That was the programme. If the Prime Minister and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates had the interests of the country at heart, they would go to the country before they legislated themselves into another year of office. In--1,-stead of a country to be proud 01, 7 New Zealand was becoming,fa country •of which the people would be as^anied ’

Replying to the Prime Minister s statement that the Labour Party was controlled from outside the House, Mr O’Brien 9aid that it would be pretty hard to find out who controlled the (Prime Minister unless it was the big financial interests. The Prime Min’eter had bached very party in the Houfec in turn. At some time or another he had given every person in New Zealand an opportunity t 0 vote for him. During the .past few years, he had performed political somersaults. Who knew but that in another two or thve e months, he might • again have found out that he was wrong and might again chang c his mind.