WARNING UNHEEDED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 224, 16 May 1932, Page 5

WARNING UNHEEDED

(Press. Assn.-

VICTORIAN PREMIER EXPLAINS LABOUR'S DEFEAT AT POLLS "BLUFFED BY EXECUTIVE"

— By Telegraxra- —Copyright).

Rec. May 15, 11 p.m. LONDON, Sunday. Mr. E. J. Hogan, Premier of Victoria, interviewed by the Australian Press Association said the immediate issue of the election was the re-enact-ment of the Premiers' plan. "During the past two years," he said, "I have frequently warned Labour members. at the Central Executive and at Labour conferences that the electors would strongly idsapprove any failure of the Government to effect economies in Government expenditure. 'During my absence some Ministers and members, bluff ed by the Central Executive's threats to expel them if they voted for the re-enactment of the Premiers' plan,, ignored my warning, and by failing in their duty, flouted their constituents, who consequently voted against them yesterday." Members Intimidated Mr. Hogan said that the Central Executive had intimidated the Labour members who believed that the plan should be re-enacted. This raised the important issue whether members of Parliament were not to do anything the Central Executive ordered them not to do, thits shattering the foundation of democracy fthat members must be free and unfettered, acknowledging their responsibility only to their constituents. It also shifted the supreme power of the Govern-

ment from Parliament to an outside body — a "Star Chamber". The electors had either to acquiesce or disapprove of the saboting of democracy. It had been a fo.regone conclusion that on such issues Labour candidates, except in a few strong industrial constituencies, would fare badly at the polls.