NATIONAL CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1917, Page 5

NATIONAL CABINET.

A RIFT WITHES THI UjfSs- - SQISTSO CRITICISM. % WiTer-<Parlianientary Corespondent. Wellington, July 24. ''l want to. »y something to the. Pnme Minister in a perfectly friendly spirit," said Mr. G. Forbes (Hurunui) in the House of Representatives to-day. "I wa,nt to say this: The successful working of th!e, Rational Cabinet depends upon the loyal co- operation of both sides, of the House. We on this side of the House have endeavored to give that support, and I want to see it continue. I want to see the National Cabinet re. maiu in existence, until the end of the war and; possess fully the confidence of this House. With .that feeling I want to a,sk the Prime Minister if he has interpreted what & niay call the act of union in the spirit in which it was. franied. Our* representatives, entered the Cabinet with the understanding that lii»ey vsiukl. be witk every waaideration in the conduct of busiaeaß. I don't want to see the National Cabinet shipwrecked, t>ut there are points that, ougW to. be. raised,''Mr, 'Fv.jibe* proceeded, \q say members had noticed W&en * deputation, representing *&» 8«oad MvUioa Lfc&gjte xraited ujDon the Prune Minister that tho Minister tor 'lflnanse was not present. The Liberal members felt that, their leader had been placed at a serious disadv%ntage in not having heard the views of the representatives of tb% League. They had be*n very much impressed by the tway iu y/blth the League presented its cajj«, aftd they felt t&at the Minister for Einanqe ha 4, suffered a loss.

Mr.'Watford (Hu,tt): "The president of the League specially asked that the Minuter for (Finance should be presem!," The Prime Minister-: "'Asked whom?*

Mr. Wilford: "In a letter to you ons Judy «." Mf. forbes repeated that he was very sorry that the Minister fof Finance had not h*4 the opportunity of hearing the views of the Second Division delegates. He was proceeding to deal with another' point when, he was interrupted by the Minister, "list me dear up this, matter before it goe3 any further," 'ssii Mr. Maesey. "Whenever any deputation comes to me and nuggeats that any otb<jr Minister should he present I tell the deputation that I shall he only too pleased to have him there, hut I have often told deputations that the responsiiblity of securing the presence of the other Minjjster or Ministers must apt rest palely with me. The invitation ' must in moat eases come from the deputation. I have just spoken to my secretary regarding the point raised by the member: for Hurunuj, and he tells me that on tho night before the. Second Division League deputation appeared a 'note was sent by him to Sir Joseph i Ward's room, asking him, to 'be present. !l do not Wjw if the note reached the Minister tfw finance or reaiehea 'his secretary. 1 should, have been glad on that occasion to have had any member of the Ministry present to h,ear the ■views of the League.'* Mr. Forbes, proceeded to refer to the butter-fat levy. He sajd that the Hon. W. ©. §. MaoPonald, as Minister for Agriculture, in the absence of the Prime Minister, had done his ibest to meet a difficult situation and to check popular dissatisfaction at a critical time. The Prime Minister had since met a very large, deputation representing the dairy* ing industry, and it did npt appear to the Liberal members that Mi", Massey had supported, the Liberal Minister in the way he should haw done.

Sir. Massoy: "I said that 1 tQok my rfull share of the responsibility fo* wn*t had been done. v M*. ?orbea added that tjie liberal member* felt that the Poard of Trade, which had been handling the cost of living problem, migitt well have been left in the hands of one of the Liberal Ministers instead of being taken over again by the Prime Minister on his return from London. The (Board under- the control of Mr. Mac Donald had been doing •gome useful work. One of the stipulations made when the Liberal repress-"' tiyes were entering the National Cabinet had been i3ja,t some measures should be taken to deal with the cost of living. He felt that the work should have been left in the hands of a Liberal Minister. The Liberal .party did not feel content with the position, A member: There is no Liberal party!

Mr. IPorbesi Yes, there is a Liberal party. We were elected as members of the party. I simply wish to acquaint the Prime Minister -with what is passing through the minds of Liberal members ■on this side of the House. I want to .see the National Government continue, and I want to slay the rumor mentioned by the member for Hawke's ißay that there is dißSonsion in the Cabinet. Mr. Forbes appealed to the Ministers to take the House into their confidence in connection with the affairs of the country. It could not be said that all the .wisdom of Parliament was possessed by the Ministers, and the members had a right to share the work of government. The House might consider some of the Government's proposals at a secret session.

T&r. Hor4ituan (Attorney-General) was the nest speaker, and ho traversed in 6ome degree the. speech of the member for Uurujmi. "I listened with great interest to the apeaph just new iyy the honorable gentleman," said Mr. Herdman. "The statements that he made ■were, no doubt, intended to be .perfectly fair and much oj tho criticism that he advanced will, I am sure, be carefully considered by the National Government." In tho course of his speech the hon. gentleman suggested that the Government should do its beat to take hon. members into its confidence, that Ministers should place all the material at their disposal at the disposal of hon. gentlemen, and should confer with them as to future legislation. He suggested that a secret session might be held. "I understand that secrot sessions , have been held in England, but not so much for considering matters of policy or ascertaining the views of members of tho House of Commons *3 to legislation to he brought down, but for the purpose of allowing the Ministry of the day to supply tofwrmation to members of tho House which, it would, not 1* advisable to give for publication in the press—mattera rebting to the disposition and state of tho army and the navy and to submarining «nd not matters relating to the domestic policy of 4ae country or to iegisktfon. Mr. Herdman aaid that he did not see l»w effect could, be given to the hon. member's suggestion. Could there bo afforded any more opportunities for discussion of the Government s policy than was already afforded in tho House? Mr. Poole: Why this reservation on certain matter* 1

Mr Herdnjan: i* no Tegerw?*; ticaU ,_ Mr. Poofe: w» ttoe &■ '*" . . Mr. HerdTOßi f gentleman forgets that, this> Bouaa faa/ been, siftjag <?ii? |«s ti»e% -*«gk»> aiaefk.' has been, uapossjbjie to, men «H #& 'WBfelti that space 0 f time. If h©n> Keirt&nnnk want informatiott %«y shoitfdi ask f«r ifc

Biidget we'll be apwpefl of critidsiag the Government.

Mr. Herdmaa;. Criticise as much aa you. please. H give* a-ch%m te svttid* mentary life to hear speeches of fflatlciwi from the hon, gentlemen. (L&nrh* tor). I pass from y»i. to, ftWtftep fsJab tao hon. gens<B«aft made?. U» JW*te reference to the lack of uua«imit(y is supposed to easifc in <ft e QmmwAI thM it is a pity {hat; critKteso|{}i& kind should be made.

Mr. Mr. Herdman; "Well, i havfl keen, id the National Gwenanent 'few* ye«ja I am sure that during tliat tfmf tha Prime Minister has shaw.n Use ufegpst courtesy to member of s*b Cabinet. The critjefem <xm ha.v& the only of making mischief. |f ««. taeacb.', did essst at present in *he Cajgns* cr*| Uciara of this kind is only c&&»lgfed ti widen the hrooch, rftiier &&ateogpim it- The Prime Mjaistflr *oct ffm ffiflM 4w of finanse have sailed, (fea «$a fcs*< geiher.. They W«t fmj ym. laces and they have come, tw* snjnjlng 4rato& tih<;ir absence everj; ]»«fff TOJ'ifltiwS l best. t-».-»,v - Mr. Witty:'ForMmselfJ

Mr. Herdinan: No, the hcja, is wrang. I deny that eirejpf vmtbm «S the Government did Ms low to aury on h|3 duties.

Mr. Witty;. So); fe psmtHm, not, ajl.

! Mr, ! Blatter of surprise to him met* tin sfajtiona} Government w*s tolled a collection, of hostile elements oqiflff be, brought together. , Mr, WilferJ: And made honKswaaa| Mr. HeKkian: And .bewsne hoflageneou.» &A»d work, together J^ppilj,