HIS POSITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 19 July 1929, Page 2

HIS POSITION

MR \V. D. LYSNAR EXPLAINS ' STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE ! (By Telegraph) j (From "The Mail's" Parliamentary ■ Reporter) j WELLINGTON, 18th July. Making his first speech in the House of Representatives tnis session, Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) took advantage of the opportunity of informing members where iiu stood in relation to the United,,' Government. He stated that he firmly ' believed that Mr Coates was the ideal , leader of the country, but he said he would support the present Government if it matte a serious endeavour.to deal with the pressing problems confronting the Dominion. "I think it is only right that I should explain mv position in this House," said Mr Lysnar. "I am, as I have always been, an Independent. I put country first and party second, and the party 1 put second is that led by the late Prime Minister of this Dominion,. Mr Coates. lam one of those who consider that he was the right man in .the right place." Mr J. O'Brien (Westland): "He's m the right place now." Mr Lysnar: "He stands to-day as the most suitable man for the position of leader of this House."

Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central): "What about the chairman of the Meat Board?" (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar: "1 know the Reform Party had its sins." (Laughter.) A member: "A good many of them." Mr Lysnar: "Too many for me, anyway. (Loud laughter.) 1 came into this House ten years ago, and I stuck loyally to the Reform Party—when they did the right thing. . (Laughter.) When, in my judgment, they didn't do so, I went against them." ; A member: "That was all the time." ! Mr Lysnar: "The Government to-day and the Labour Party assisted mo in some of those affairs, and I want to acknowledge that assistance." The Leaner of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland): "You deserted me once."

Mr Lysnar: "Yes, I deserted you, and I'll desert the present party if they follow some of the practices of the extreme Labour Party." (Laughter.) Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon): "You deserted the chairman of the Meat ! Board." . Mr Lysnar: "I admit that the Rejform Party had its sins, and I don't ! blame the late Prime .Minister for them. 11 know from the bottom of my heart that he wanted to do certain things, but the party with which he was associated , wouldn't do them. In other words, I consider that the prosperity of the Dominion and the status of the late Prime Minister were jeopardised tlfftjugh" a section of the party acting as clogs in the wheel of progress. Thanks to the electors, that element has been largely eliminated. I don't say wholly eliminated/and at least one honourable gentleman knows the exception that is m my mind. (Loud laughter.) That destructive element has 'gone, and I hope something will be done by the presentGovernment and the. Opposition that will enable the country to benefit from the usefulness of the late Prime Minister. There were some good men who lost their places in this House at the election, but that is all in the game, Mr Speaker. I gave the Reform Party general support when they were in power, and I am in this position: I can give the present party my support. I will gladly assist the' Government in every way possible." A member: ''When they are right." Mr Lysnar: "If they take steps to uplift this Dominion in the proper way." A Labour member: "What do you want, anyway?" Mr Lysnar*: "I will tell you what I want in a few minutes. (Laughter.) The whole question is: Are they going to do any better than the last party?" Reform members: "No." Colonel <T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa): "That's an easy one to answer." Mr Lysnar: "I hope they will. But the present Government must become active. It must deliver the goods. They have promised certain things to the electors of the Dominion. Let them give us those things. I believe if they do that they will receive the cordial support of all parties. But if they are going to try to hoodwink .the electors of the Dominion I predict they will be in trouble very quickly. lam not suggesting they will do that." j Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino): "You are hoping they will." i Mr Lysnar: "No, I am not hoping that. I am hoping they will do something that will relieve unemployment, which is throttling the progress of this Dominion and of the Empire. What is the cause of unemployment?" A member: "Drink." (Laughter.) Another member: "Want of work." Mr Lysnar: "No, it is : not want of work. 'What we want to do is to eliminate trusts in this country. Until you do that you are going to go down, down, down " A member: "And out." (Laughter.) . Mr Lysnar: "That's the position. That is the remedy for unemployment. The trusts are sapping the life blood of the Dominion. The farmers all over the world are suffering from the same thing—in New Zealand, in the Argentine, and m Great Britain." A Labour member: "What about the MacDonald Government?" Mr Lysnar: "I'll toll you all about the MacDonald Government presently.'' (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar then went on to discuss other matters.