Mr. Coates Will Not Harass Government

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 707, 5 July 1929, Page 11

Mr. Coates Will Not Harass Government

SPORTING UTTERANCE NO NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION (THE SUX'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON', Thursday. That the Opposition wanted to see the Government carry out its promises and bring back the country to a condition of prosperity and comfort was the reason advanced by the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, this afternoon for not moving an amendment to the

Address-in- Reply. “Members,” he said, “have been looking to me to move an amendment, but the political situation is not such that party tactics can be resorted to. We want to give our whole thought to tlio welfare of the country, and we are anxious to see the Government put into effect its promises. If it can bring back prosperity and comfort to the community, I personally shall be satisfied. “We recognise the difficult position of the Government, and we are not going to adopt harassing or petty tactics. We take the widest view, an-'* will help to govern the country. “That does not mean that we shall give up our right of criticism, however. The Government has been in office for seven months only, and certainly has not been given a great opportunity to bring before the public all its proposals, but I am sorry not to have seen more of them.

“I suggest to the Government that even at the risk of going back on one or two of its election planks with regard to public expenditure, which might be bad for the country, the Government would be doing the right thing, and would be supported by this side of the House.” The Minister of Labour,, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, characterised the latter part of Mr. Coates’s speech about the no-confidence motion as generous and sportsmanlike, and worthy of the position which the Leader of the Opposition occupied. Mr. Coates also had been generous in stating that the Government had not been in office long enough to carry out i. 3 policy in its entirety. The present situation in the House was difficult and was one created by a peculiar thing called politics. Mr. Coates: It is due to a misunderstanding. Mr. Veitch: Yes, it is a misunderstanding. A Reform Member: On the part of the electors. (Laughter.) Air. Veitch: Oh, no. Mr. Veitch said that wherever he had gone tributes had been paid to Mr. Coates for the sincerity with which he had carried out his office while he was Prime Minister. After all, the differences that had arisen were on policy matters only. The Government had no desire to force itself on the House. The people had expressed the opinion, through The ballot, that a change was desirable. The change had taken place and during the session legislation would be introduced which he was sure would meet w*ith the approval of Parliament and the country. With this legislation on the Statute Book New Zealand would be lifted out of the temporary period of depression and set on the high road to prosperity. Mr. H. E. Holland, Labour Leader: Is much of the legislation ready? The Minister: There is quite a lot of it ready.

“Well let us finish the debate and get on with the work of the session,” suggested Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch East). The Minister concluded by stressing the importance of members working in harmony for the good of the country.