LOBBY RUMOURS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 337, 26 September 1932, Page 5

LOBBY RUMOURS

("Post" Special Compiissioper) .

TWQ GOVERNMENT MEMBERS REPORTED OPENLY. DEFIANT ABSENT FROM CAUCUS'

Wellington, Saturday. The iobbies are buzzing with thc possibilities consequent upon the independent attitude which has beep taken up by Messrs. A. J. Stallworthy (Edeni), and A. M. Samuel (Thames) who, at the general election, were retained as supporters of the Coalition, but who have since expressed dissatisfactipn with several points in the Governmeni's policy. Both refused an invifcation to attend the Coalition caucus yesterday. Although these

two members have not expressed themselves in the House, their attitude seems to be one of open defianee. Mr. Samuel has characterised the Government's failure to introduce legislation to reinstatc miners' widows: pensions as an ab-

solute betrayal" and Mr. Stallworthy is also opposed to the Government's attitude on social legislation. Theu' i? also opposition in the Coalition eamp to the contract signed by the Ilon. R. Masters (Minister of Education) for the publication oi' school text books, and Mr. F. Lye (Waikato), has definitely stated that he is opposed to the portfolio of Education being held in the Upper House. Ccher Malcontenis If reliable information is correct, he is- not alone in his attitude. The oflieial r eport of the Coalition caucus stated that all members had attended, but it is now revealed that Messrs. Samuel and Stallworthy deliberately absented themselves from the meetings. It is reliably understood that these members declined to sign the formal notice convening the meetings. Mr. Samuel and Stallworthy reseni tbe implication that they were uecessarily associated with any or all of the resolutions passed. Members who find their views in occasional conflict with Cabinet's decisions need not necessarily absent themselves from the caucuses of the party, particularly the opening gathering of the session when a rough outline is given of the legislation to be brought down. Significance, therefore, attaches to the studied absence from yesterday's caucus of the two members named and lobby anticipations are that a clearer definition of their intentions and future attitude may be loolted for before tlie conclusion of the Address-in-Reply debate. When asked for the Government's attitude towards insurrectionists today, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said it was a matter for the members in question to decide. Hint to Resign "When a member who is definitely returned to support tbe Government's economy measures votes in a manner that would mean the defeat of the Government and the placing of the Opposition in power, he is doing something that is entirely opposed to his platform pledges," said Mr. Forbes. "Had he told the electors that he would vote against certain measures to bring that about,- I don't think he would have seen this House. In my mind the only course open to me, if I were the member situated in those eircumstanees, would be to resign and recontest the seat. I am convinced that votes would never have been given had electors known that support would be used in that way. "In regard to the Thames seat, we had to exercise all the persuasion and argument at our command to induce the United candidate to withdraw in the national interests so that a supp.oiter of the coalition Government would be returned. The times are too serious and the issues too grave for any man to play around. Votes cast at last election were cast seriously. There is no question about ( that."