LIBERALS AND LABOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1922, Page 4

LIBERALS AND LABOR.

WERE THERE NEGO™ VHONSfc REVELATIONS PROMISED. MR. HOLLAND MAKES CHARGES. (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.)' Wellington. Last Night. A rumor of recent negotiations between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party or between sections of the parties had more than an echo in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The Leader of the Labor Party (Mr. H. Holland) was talking, and he reminded the House that the Leader of Liberal Party (Mr. T. M. Wilford) had declared that he never would associate himself politically with the Labor men. Mr. Wilford: Hear, hear. Mr. Holland: Is it not a fact that less than a week ago the Liberal Party was ready to enter into an understanding with the Labor Party? Mr. Wilford: I say no. Mr. Holland: For the purpose of securing proportional representation? Mr. Wilford: No. Mr. Holland: Will the hon. member agree to have every card placed on the table? Mr. Wilford: Yes. Mr. Holland: AH right, I will place them on the table at the next sitting of the House. The Liberals were ready to hold office with tne support of the Labor Party to get proportional representation. Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson): That is not' true. Mr. Holland: With the consent of the parties concerned I will put the cards on the table. Mr. Wilford: I have given my consent. Mr. Holland: The day has gone when a man could take up one attitude in secret and another in public. The Labor Party is not standing for that. Did you notice the change of attitude immediately the Auckland conference was over? However, lam not going to deal ' with that any further. I want to say that the ordinary prerogatives of honor demand that we shall not take up one attitude in secret and another in public. The Leader of the Labor Party proceeded to declare that the real line of political demarcation in Parliament was between the men who . sat on the Labor benches and the men who sat on the Government benches. Presently another interjection from Mr. Atmore drew his fire “The hon. gentleman had better not interrupt,” said Mr. Holland. Mr. Atmore: You cannot intimidate me. Mr. Holland: We may look into your past connection with the Reform Party. Mr. Atmore denied that there had been any connection. Mr. Holland: Then your dependence upon them. The incident closed there, at all events for the time being, but Mr. Holland had said enough to make many members curious enough for further information.