A PROTEST

AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPPOSITNON WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE. The Right Hoik Sir J G, Ward and many members of the Opposition walked out of the House of Representatives last night as a protest against the introduction of the Hon. J. Allen's Financial Statement, which is regarded as the most contentious political document any Government can introduce to a Parliament ' conducted on the party principle, at a time when a crisis in the history of the British Empire fills every mind and thrusts into comparative insignificance all political questions. The protest was additional to a. less drastic objection made during the afternoon, when it was announced that it ■was the intention of the Government to bring down the Budget in the evening. The Leader of the Opposition urged the Government on both occasions to defer the introduction of the Budget, but the Frime Minister adopted the view that it was wise 'to introduco it 1 and give the people of the country a knowledge of the Dominion's financial position. So, for the first time in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, the Budget was read only to members of the Government— an extraordinary business. Immediately following the introduction of the Estimates by Governor's Message, The Leader of the Opposition entered another protest against the introduction of the Financial Statement , which he ' described as the most contentious"" party document that any Government could submit to Parliament at thife juncture. Itß introduction was not only unwise, but he thought it was unfair to the country. Afi he had previously made quite clear, the Opposition was determined not to say or do anything that would weaken the position of this country in the eyes of its people and the people beyond New Zealand. He pereonally proposed to absent himsetf. "1 #hall not sit here," said Sir 1 Joseph, and go through the formula of remaining silent and 4 seeing a , document brought down which, in the face of the present grave crisis Tn the Empire's history, we cannot criticise, yet which is the most contentious document which the Government brings down. (Opposition members: Hear, hear.) I appealed to the Government to defer it." l'he Leader of the Opposition pointed out that, apart altogether from the members of the House, the preas of the country. 6n both sides was standing loyally by New Zealand. They were thinking .not of local politics but of the great emergency in which we are placed as an outlying post of the British Empire. ( And while they all ought to stand united in every possible way, they got the most contentious document placed before them. "Our sense of responsibility is such," he said, "that we are not prepared even to discuss it or express an opinion upon it. 1 am sorry that the Prime Minister and hie colleagues have not seen their way to comply with my request during the afternoon. I am not going to take part in what I recognise to be the beginning pf a great party contest and the clashing of the political party swords both inside and outside Parliament." Mr. Nosworthy :*YOu have been asking for it for days. Sir iJoseph Ward: "I do not attach any importance . to the hon. gentleman's remark. We asked for it before Great Britain wag involved in trouble." Tho Prime -Minister, in reply, said he regretted exceedingly the opposition to the reading of the Financial" Statement. He thought that under the circumstances it was a very unwise and improper procedure, to adopt. Tho right hon. gentleman ought to recall that Other measures, other proposals, would have to be submitted to Parliament, whatever happened, which would be quite as contentions as the Financial Statement. He was referring to loan Bills, which it was quite certaih they would be required to pass during the session. These were proposals- of ■ which advantage was taken for party purposes. Opposition member: They won't be this time. , Mr. Massey said he was very glad Indeed to acknowledge that party warfare had been dropped, and he would be very glad if it were dropped until the end of the. session. He did not object to criticism, not the very slightest— he wanted that thoroughly understood. He did not agree, however, with the view that the Financial Statement was a contentious document. The contentiousness lay in regard to the debate on the Financial Statement. The Statement itself was not contentious, though it stated some ' of the more important proposals of the Government. As hon. members knew, the Statement was practically completed ab the end of last week, and he had kept his promise that it would be delivered during the present week. Some hundreds of copies of the Statement had been posted to different parts of New Zealand (an Opposition member • Under seal 7)— under seal, of course, and it was waiting to be released. (An Opposition tnember: There is nothing to compel the seal to be broken to-night.) Newspaper people were expecting the Statement to-night, and it would be a serious disappointment if it could not be handled. He was very sorry the right hon. gentleman had adopted the coarse he had. The Government considered that it was its duty to keep its promise to the House and the country. There was no such thing as» party purpose in bringing down the Statement — it was simply a question of duty. Mr. Russell said they hadf no desire whatever to make party capital out of anything there was or might be in the Financial Statement. At the same time they were equally determined that they would not be embroiled in a party quaar» f«l at this stage. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister must know that it was quite impossible for the Minister of Finance to oring down ort the fioor of the House any measure dealing with proposals to borrow money without submitting to party controversy. This was the very essence of party conflict. The Opposition was quite prepared on their part to assist? in supplying any money tho Government bnight need for carrying out necessary steps in the defence of the Dominion. What the Government should do was to submit merely a statement of finance to tho country— it was all the country was looking for at the present time. All debatable questions should be held over till another time, when the air might be moro clear. "We simply ask the Prims Minister," said Mr. Russell, ''to save us the painful responsible lity of introducing party politics into the House at this critwat juncture. Why, with the altered circumstances the proposals in the Statement itself must be altered. Yet you want to force us into the position ot taking our chanco of any criticism we may be prepared to make being construed as an attempt to harass tho Government with party politics, when wo don't want any party politics at all. It is not fair to us and the huge mass of the people we represent to force us into a. party conflict. You should move the adjournment now or you compel us ->» a protest against the motion of the Government in this matter to walk out of the House to-night."

Mr. Payne said he sincerely regretted that the head of affairs in the DominionCries of disapproval and "No party politics." Mr. Payne: "T sincerely regret that the head of the Government is one who cannot step forth ' from the narrow confines of party in the face of this graye danger to the Empire." The Government, he said, was taking unfair party advantage of the honour — (Ministerial titters) — by which the Opposition side of the House felt itself bound at this critical juncture. The conduct of the Prime Minister was ( extremely unstatesmanlike under the circumstances. It was agreed on the voices to go into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. As soon as Mr. Malcolm took his seat and the Minister of Finance rose to read the Statement, the Leader of the Opposition got up, and, followed by every member of the Opposition present, including all the Labour members, left the House. The Minister smiled and proceeded with the Statement.