NO “YES-MEN” WANTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1943, Page 4

NO “YES-MEN” WANTED

OPPOSITION LEADER’S TOUR VOTING RIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT. MANPOWER COMMITMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, September 3. Despite heavy rain, the Opera House- wasfilled to capacity tonight, when an address was given by the Leader of the National Party, Mr S. G. Holland. At an early afternoon meeting at Wairoa, Mr Holland addressed 300 electors of both the Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay electorates. At both meetings he was cordially received and his exposition of major points of his party’s policy was frequently applauded. Criticising what he desorbed as overcommitments in manpower, Mr Holland suggested that the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr McLagan, should have accepted the opportunity given by the 1 general election of contesting any one of the 76 seats 1 as a test of approval of the people of his appointment and administration. Mr McLagan had failed to take that opportunity. “The National Party wants no ‘yes-men,’ ” said Mr Holland, referring to the policy plank of freedom of members of Parliament. The Prime Minister had said at New Plymouth that the proposal was humbug, and Parliament would be made an absurdity because the Government would be defeated if members were free to vote according to their consciences. Mr Holland said no piece of legislation had any right to find its way to the Statute Book unless the majority of members of Parliament agreed to it going there. The Prime Minister had admitted that he did not believe it right that any member should have the freedom to vote according to his conscience and judgment, and the people would be grateful for that admission.