An Opposition Protest.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 91, 7 August 1914, Page 3

An Opposition Protest.

MEMBERS WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE. (The Phks* Association.] Wellington, August 6. When the House met, at 2.30, Sir Joseph Ward asked the Premier if It was' true that the Budget would be brought down this evening., Mr Massey replied that the Minister of Finance would deliver the Budget that evening. Sir Joseph Ward said h© regretted to hear the statement just made. At a time’ when England Was at war it was most advisable to drop all party politics in the House, and his party was prepared to do that. The Budget necessarily contained matter of a highly controversial nature, and the Opposition! must either accept it with their mouths' shut or they must approach it in party spirit. He suggested that the Minister should postpone delivery of the Budget, and if lie wanted ways and means lot him bring down a statement of what he wants, and the Opposition would pass it without discussion. He did not thing it wise to precipitate at this juncture strong party discussion such as might take place on the Budget. Mr Massey said the Financial Statement was the most important document laid before Parliament during the session. It had been ready for some days, and the people had a right to know what the financial position! of the country was. Mr Russell: That is a different thing. The Budget contains your policy. The Premier: Why should the people not know what our policy is? Hon. Members; We can’t discuss it. Mr Russell said the fact was that the Opposition bad disappeared as a party in the House, and they wanted to maintian that position until the present crisis had passed. He asked the Premier to hold the Budget over for a week, so that the Opposition might he free to act with the Government as one solid Parliament, working for flag and Empire. Mr Massey said the objections raised to the delivery of the Budget might be raised with equal force to any legislation, and Parliament would have to adjourn. He wag not going to take up that position. The state if Europe would bo worse before it was better, and it was the duty of the Government to lay the Statement before the people. He did not propose to go on with the discussion at once.

Sir Joseph Ward explainiod that lie had not refused to discuss the Budget out of pique,, but out of Lis sense of duty to the, Empire. Mr Colvin asked the Minister for Defence if the Government had taken adequate precautions to protect the coal deposits on the West Coast. Mr Allen replied that precautions had been taken in the direction indicated. After the dinner adjournment Mr 801 l asked the Premier if it were possible for the Premier to issue a proclamation urging people to husband their resources in view of the war crisis. Mr Massey said he doubted if legislation or a proclamation would do much good, but he hoped that people would realise the necessity for providing for. a rainy day. The Government was considering the question of a moratorium. He did not think it wise to adjourn Parliament. He proposed to take tho Licensing Bill on Friday and something had to be done with regard to the regulation of the price of bread stuffs. A Bill had been prepared. It was a good Biil, but it did not quite meet his wishes. It had been referred back to the law officers,i He hoped to be able to deal with it to-morrow, when he had got the Licensing Bill out of the way. Ho proposed to go on quietly and calmly with business. He wanted to avoid all contentious business, and keep Parliament alive. Upon the announcement of; the Financial Statement, the Leader of the Opposition said he did not propose to stop in tho House while the Statement was delivered. He would not make any criticism upon the Statement at the present juncture, hut he would not sib in the House silent. They should be as one man. The Government proposed to introduce tjw most contentious document of the session. He had entered a protest this afternoon, hut it had- not been heeded. He had expressed his opinion, but he would not take part in a Parliamentary .coptesfc.

Mr Massey expressed his regret that Sir Joseph Ward intended to absent himself. It was an unwise and improper proceeding. Other measures were just as important from party purposes, and lie could not agree that the Financial Statement was a. party document. The debate might he a party one, but the Statement was not. If not delivered, the public would be disappointed. Ho was not bringing down the Statement for party purposes. Mr Russell also entered a protest against the delivery of the Statement.

The Government refused to adjourn the delivery of the Statement, and the House went into committee of supply. On Mr Allen rising to deliver the Statement, members of the Opposition followed Sir Joseph Ward out of the Chamber. Members of the Labor party also left, and the Government benches only were occupied when the Budget was delivered.