LABOUR LEADER AND PREMIER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2532, 20 January 1923, Page 3

LABOUR LEADER AND PREMIER.

MR HOLLAND IN A HURRY.

Wellington, Yesterday

The following telegrams have been exchanged by Mr TI. E. Holland, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and the Premier: — “Westport, Jan.lß. “Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Wellington. —Parliamentary Labour Party desires respectfully to enter the strongest possible protest against any delay in calling Parliament together. The verdict of December 7th constituted an emphatic no confidence vote in the present Government. and the Labour Party holds that the Government alternative to resigning should meet Parliament at the earliest moment, certainly not later than the middle of February. — (Rgd.) H. E. Holland.” “Wellington, January 18. “11. E. Holland, Esq., M.P., Westport. —Your telegram received. I quite understand the constitutional position, and will act in accordance with it. You arc in error in thinking that the verdict of December 7th constituted an emphatic declaration of no-confidence in the Government. On the contrary, it constituted a. declaration that the people of New Zealand would on no account tolerate a Government which might be assisted to office by, or in any way placed under, an obligation to, the Socialistic Labour Party.”—-(Sgd.) W. F. Massey.” Westport, Last Night. This afternoon, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, telegraphed the following reply to the Prime Minister : . “Thanks for your reply. I regret, however, that your telegram gives no indication of the date on which the Government, will meet Parliament. lam confident that the public will disapprove of the action of a heavily defeated Government in neglecting to meet Parliament promptly. lam also sure that the public will regard with the same astonishment as myself the statement that the December 7th verdict is interpreted to mean a victory for the Government.”