PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1011, 24 February 1912, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, Feb, 22

The debate on Mr Massey’s uocoufidence motion was continued this afternoon by Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin S.) who said that the opposition to the Liberal Parly was directed against Sir Joseph Ward. He urged a union between the Liberal and Labour parties. Mr McDonald (Bay of Plenty) praised the policy outlined in the Governor’s speech, and said the Liberal parly intended to be loyal to its chief and not give away the reins ot power until it was decided that he was not supported by a majority. In the evening, Mr Payne (Grey Lyun) carried on the debate. He said the policy as outlined in the Governor’s speech was iu sympathy with his idea of a Labour policy. So far the Opposition had given him no opportunity to leatn what they would do. As to the Governor’s speech being an insult to the Governor, the members of the House and the people, he could not see where the insult came in. He had given his pledge to the Leader of the Oppo sition to vole lor his side last Friday week, but he could nut now see any justification lot keeping it. If he deemed it expedient to break his pledge he would not scruple about doing it. He would rather break his pledge than commit Labour interest murder. He, while iu the north, had been led to believe that there were certainly irregularities going on in the conduct ol the country’s affairs. Since he had been in the House the only things he had been able to hear were innuendos. Last

week a meeting of his constituents had been called to ask him to resign in consequence of rumours circulated in Auckland that he intended to vote for Sir Joseph Ward. The meeting had finished by requesting him to vote against the Reform party. Innuendos had been in circulation that he had been bought by the Ward Government for £IOOO. It had been told him by the Leader of the Opposition himself.

Mr Massey: “Tell what you told me in my room.” Mr Payne, continuing, said he would deal with the matter later. Any attempt to influence him by specious argument would be futile. He considered he was conserving the interests of the people by supporting the Liberals. He had heard Sir Joseph Ward repudiate the slanders issued during the elections, but he had not heard them discussed by the Opposition. He had heard of the recklessness in finance of the present administration, but he had not heard or seen anything to warrant him believing it. He believed there was a new party in the making, combining Liberal and Labour interests, and he had to consider what was the best bargain for the Labour party. Referring to the charges of reckless borrowing and squandering, he characterised them as inventions. His moral was that New Zealand, as in England, was expending money on works of utility and profit. Pie had come to Parliament with an open mind, and had listened to both sides. He had, he declared, never listened to such dishwater arguments as had been uttered against the Government. To sum up the position, he had not heard anything to pass on to his constituents in Grey Lynn as sufficient to vote out the Liberal Government on a uo-coufi-deuce motion. He looked lorvvard to a combination of Liberal, Radical and Labour members, working together for the general good.

Mr Harris said his mission was to oust the Waid Government. He was ashamed to know that any man was prepared to stand up and say he would break his election pledge. Mr Payne called himself a Labour representative. He, himself, represeuted as much labour interest as Mr Payne, and what had the Government done for them ? All they had to thank the Government lor was a lot ot empty promises not carried out. He wanted to tell Mr Payne what he thought of him in sinking his principles in the way he had. Mr Payne, in a personal explanation, said his election pledges contained no pledge that he should vote against the Ward administration. They were typed out, and were in the hands of his committee.

Mr Hiudmarsh thanked Mr Massey for being the medium for the return of so many Opposition members, thus placing the Labour party in the happy position oi controlling the House. His sympathies were in the main with the Liberals, but he would never support any party long which bad the Hon. J. A. Millar iu the Cabinet. Mr Millar’s altitude iu opposing rating on unimproved value had alienated irom him sympathy of all true democrats. He criticised the policy of the Government, and declared he was iu favour of the extension of the functions of the State.

Mr Brown (Napier) entered into a general criticism of the Opposition, after which Mi Dickie moved the adjournment, and the House rose at ix.so p.m.