WORK OF THE SESSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3728, 10 December 1927, Page 2

WORK OF THE SESSION.

COMMENT BY MR. LINKLATER, M.P. WILL AGAIN BE A CANDIDATE FOR MANAWATU. Speaking at the Levin Horticultural Show, which he opened as patron on Tuesday, Mr. J. Linklater made some references to the Parliamentary session, which had closed the day before, saying that it had been very strenuous indeed. One of the burning questions dealt with was the Licensing Amendment Bill. Members found themselves in the difficulty that, no matter what they said about the licensing question, they would be going against some portion of their electorates. Opinion was very divided —and they had had to give their opinion and stand by it. Personally, he wanted to do what was right. He had voted in what he considered the right way, and he had to stand by it. Naturally, added Mr. Linklater, he would have to face the electors and he would be a candidate for the Manawatn seat at the next election. . It was not his intention to make a political speech now, but he hoped he would have the opportunity of doing so later, when he would be able to explain to the electors his reasons for voting in certain directions. “We have had some of the most controversial subjects that it is possible to deal with” he said. “There is hardly a political subject that has not been* dealt with this session. We are all very pleased t'o see the end of the 1927 session. People are apt to think that, because a man does not raise his voice in the Assembly, he is doing nothing there; but we have 24 committees, and the greater work of Parliament is done in the committees, to which all the big questions are referred. Whatever time a member leaves the House, he must be down again at 10 a.in. on committee business, and it makes one feel pretty old at times, I can assure you. We have done our best in the direction of good legislation. Whatever may be said of the Coates Government, the questions have been tackled without any hesitation and most of them have been dealt with courageously.” Mr. Linklater also had a few words to say about the petrol tax, urging the people to view it tolerantly, and to bear in mind that if the price had been increased 4d a gallon by the oil .companies instead of by tlie Government, little would have been heard in the way of comment. He also had in mind the Main Highway through the Horowhenua County. The ratepayers had constructed the roads and had paid for them. If a tally were kept of the through traffic, it would be found that a very small percentage of the users were paying for the upkeep of the road.