GOVERNMENTS POSITION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1031, 23 July 1930, Page 13

GOVERNMENTS POSITION

“SHOULD RESIGN,” SAYS INDEPENDENT LABOUR OPPOSITION 3 'TIE SUS’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Tuesday. The gauge was thrown down to the Government this evening by a Labour member, who hinted that in bringing down the Customs Bill the Govern ment might find itself in an awkward position. He was Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour —Napier). Later Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont) said that as it had dishonoured its election pledges the Government should resign.

Mr. Barnard said the leaders of the Reform and labour Parties were agreeable to the Government having its way with the resolutions, and as that seemed the usual thing he must accede to that policy. The fact, however, had to be taken into consideration that Reform and Labour might act together on the tariff proposals, and then the Government might find itself in a very awkward position. Whatever the Labour Party did it would, as the leader, Mr. Holland, had stated, act fearlessly. The Government’s proposals, said Mr. Barnard, were a Jumbled mixture of good, bad and indifferent, and the House was entitled to know the Government’s principles ,on the question. Mr. Barnard did not want the Prime Minister to think he was throwing out idle threats, because many things had to be considered very seriously by the members of the House, and he was afraid the Government would be forced to accept drastic amendments. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent — Grey Lynn) said he would oppose the Customs Bill whole-heartedly. The Prime Minister, he said, was in the position of a blind Samson pulling down the pillars of the temple. He urged that the country’s finances as outlined in the Budget should be be fore the House before the tariff pro posals were considered. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) said there was a good deal in what Mr. Fletcher said. It seemed that without the Budget the House was in the position of a child whose mother told it to shut its eyes and open its mouth and see what the Government would send it. (Laughter.) Mr. Wilkinson said the Government had not honoured the pledges given to the country £nd it should resign. That was the constitutional procedure.