THE TARANAKI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1922, Page 4

THE TARANAKI SEAT.

MR. SMITH AND THE PREMIER. BRIEF DUEL OF WORDS. (By Wire.—‘Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. In the House to-day Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) said the -Budget held out no’ hope to manufacturers that there would be any reduction of taxation and no hope to workers that unemployment would be remedied. Ministers had dismissed all criticism with the reply that the critics ‘ were asking for expenditure while the Government had no money. Mr. Massey: Have you asked for anything lately? Mr. Smith replied that he had asked for proper school accommodation and if that was wrong it was a very good proof that this country needed a change of Government. Mr. Smith proceeded to devote some attention to the member for Kaiapoi (Mr. D. Jones), who had attacked the Labor Party. Mr. Smith observed that his own position in regard to the official Labor Party had not been made sufficiently clear. Mr. Jones had nd particular cause to be, because the party had greatly assisted Mr. Jones by putting up a candidate who split the votes at the last election. Mr. Jones represented a minority of the electors, and the speaker proceeded to prove this by quoting figures. The Prime Minister interjected that he had heard the figures before. Mr. Smiih replied that he would go on quoting them till the country awoke to the fact that it was ruled by a minority Government. Mr. Massey: Taranaki will wake up shortly. Mr. Smith: I am here because Taranaki is awake—awake to the neglect of the Reform Government to consider the real interests of Taranaki. The right hon. gentleman is so popular in my district that he Can’t get a single member of his own party to stand for him there. Mr. Masseyt Oh, nonsense; you’ve got an opponent all right. Mr. Smith: The Reform candidate in Taranaki this time is a renegade Liberal. * Mr. Smith proceeded to charge the Government with wasting time. The Government had invited a discussion on the Licensing Committee’s report, though it did not intend to bring in a Licensing Bill. The reason for this invitation was that the Government had not enough legislation ready for the House. He was one of those who had not helped to waste time on that report.