NOT DEMOCRATIC

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 5

NOT DEMOCRATIC

CRITICISM BY THE PREMIER TACTICS USED BY OPPOSITION. WELINGTON, Feb. 23. “If that’s the Labour Party’s idea of democracy, it shows how far we are getting away from' it,” declared the Prime Minister last night when he discussed with a press representative the references of the leader of the Opposition to his suggestion that, if Parliamentary obstruction interfered with the Government’s legislation, recourse would have to be made to the Government by Order-in-Council. Mr Forbes declined to recede an inch from his former declaration, which bad provoked Mr Holland, at the Town Hall meeting, to refer to him a s “the new Mussolini.” Referring to the subject of the third reading of the Sales Tax Bill, Mr Holland said the people of New Zealand were threatened with the dopiival of their rights to secure redress, by constitutional means. Mr Forbes had practically threatened that he would destrov the power of Parliament and transfer the right to govern to the bands of the Executive by Order-in-Council. When he had read Mr Forbes’ statement that there were disgraceful scenes in the House he wondered whether the Prime Minister had not committed a breach of privilege. He challenged Mr Forbes on that statement.