POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 19

POLITICAL SITUATION

THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION LABOUR ON THE WARPATH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. “We are not worrying about when the election will come. We are going on with our job.” said the Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) when interviewed concerning the political situation. There would be no variation in the Government’s policy, and it was for Parliament to decide whether that policj’ should be carried out. The Leader of the Opposition (Dlr J. G. Coates) said lie would not comment bejond saying that his party would wait to see what were the further proposals of the Government. “ There is one thing absolutely certain, and that is that the Labour Party will seize the first opportunity that presents itself of sending the Government to the country,” said the Leader of the Labour Party (Dlr 11. E. Holland) in an interview. He added that the Government should have gone back to the electors before.

THE REFORM PARTY ADHERENCE TO ITS POLICY. CHRISTCHURCH. May 29. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) arrived in Christchurch today, and addressed a meeting of his supporters to-night. Discussing the political situation, Dlr Coates criticised the United Party’s record, alleging that it had broken all its election pledges. He said he had not heard of any cables being sent to the British Government by the New Zealand Government protesting against the dumping of Russian butter to compete with that from this country. Mr Baldwin had told Russia to go about her business. Mr Holland should be asked what he thought about the action of the British Government, and if his reply was that he stood solidlj r in with the Empire, he (Dlr Coates) would be the first to congratulate him. The Reform Party was still prepared to assist the Government, hut it was not going to sink its identity. It could serve the interests of the country better without being absorbed. A motion was carried reaffirming confidence in the policy and principles of the Reform Party. REJECTION OF FUSION OFFER. NEW PLYDIOUTH, May 29. A well-attended meeting of Reform supporters last night unanimously approved of Dlr Coates’s refusal to accept fusion. REFORM PARTY’S WARNING DENIAL BY PRIME MINISTER. CHRISTCHURCH, May 30. Interviewed to-day, the Prime Minister (Dlr G. W. Forbes) denied the statement made by Dlr Coates here yesterday that the present Government had been warned by the ’Reform Party in 1928 that dan-

gerous days were ahead. The Reform 1 arty, he said, was in office in 1928, and judging from ite actions nothing was fur* ther from its mind than thoughts of the coming financial depression. The United Party had to take over the Reform deficit when it assumed office. Commenting on the Labour Leader’s

statement regarding forcing the Government to go to the country, Dlr Forbes said tins was nothing new. Labour had consistently voted against the Government since the commencement of last session. REASONS FOR REJECTION STATEDIENT BY MR COATES. CHRISTCHURCH, May 31. “ Before any proposal for fusion is discussed the country is entitled to know the principles, policy, and personnel of the men who are to give effect to tlm declarations of the suggested party,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Dlr J. G. Coates), explaining before a meeting of women supporters of his party oil Saturday why the Reform Party had declined the offer of fusion made by the Prime Minister. Although a National Party had an appeal in name, Dlr Coates said, actually it would mean little and might lead the country into a worse position than ever. The question has been raised by the Prime Minister concerning the formation of a National Party,” he began. “ The country is passing through strenuous and difficult times, although I know that one party has promised that if it gets into office there will be an immediate return to prosperity. I know that the Prime Minister is having difficulty, part of it, in my judgment, clue to the United Party’s policy and its failure to recognise plain facts. We are right up against it, and it is for the legislators of the country to see that iu this time of depression equality of sacrifice is applied fairly among the people. “ The Prime Minister has estimated a deficiency of £5,500,000,” continued Dlr Coates. “ After making economies in Government departments and reductions in wages, he hopes that there will be only some £2,250,000 to make good. To get over the problem of balancing the Budget he suggests that a National Party should be formed. “ Now, a National Party has an appeal in the name itself, an appeal favourably commented on by many men. May I ask you what miracle a National Parky can bring about? Does it mean anything? Does it convey any inspiration to you, any solution of the problems ahead? Further, I would ask this question : Have I, or any member of the party, any mandate to sink and obliterate the individuality of the party? While I may be criticised, I have refused to accept the proposal and I do it mainly on the grounds that what affects this country more than anything Ise is to know what its legislators are going to do. “ The people of the country are entitled to know the principles upon which any group of the kind would work and the general policy which such an amalgamation would bring about. What are you going to do and how? Merely to bring together a number of men as a National Party means nothing to the individual. If it is to be an amalgamation of party questions, what are the planks to be followed ?

“ Everything in political life is accomplished by team work. A National Party does not mean team work. It would be a loose, quickly-formed group of parliamentarians who, possibly, think along quite different lines. The seeds of dissension creep in and you are led on to a worse position than ever. Before any proposal of this kind is discussed the country is entitled to know the principles, policy, and personnel of the men who are to give effect to the declarations named.”