LABOUR VIEWPOINT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 132, 17 March 1930, Page 5

LABOUR VIEWPOINT

POLITICAL SITUATION.

EARLY ELECTION ANTICIPATED. t .. EYES ON TREASURY BENCHES. (Per Press Association.) WESTPORT, This Day. Mr H. E. Holland (leader of the .Labour Party), briefly addressing a Week-end meeting oi the Westport branch of the Party, stressed the need for preparation lor a possible general election either at the end of this year or early in 1931. It was true, lie said, that the present Parliament might last out the full term, hut it was equa ly true that no one could with any degree of certainty predict what would happen during the next session. In the ranks of the Labour Party, both in and out of Parliament, there was the gravest dissatisfaction with the Government because of its failure to live up to its pre-election promises. That dissatisfaction was also widely in evidence among the general public, including many supporters of the United Party in the electorates. What was very certain was that in the session the Labour Party would press every demand embodied in its pronouncement of last month reflecting the party’s previous declarations. Mr Holland urged, in regard to the next general election, that they should leave nothing whatever to chance. • Discussing possible developments during the session, Mr Holland said that in the event of the Government, being defeated on a motion by the Labour Party, it would follow, as a matter of compliance with constitutional procedure, that Labour must be given the opportunity to form a Government. in that event the Labour Party would be entitled ‘to expect the same consideration from the House as was extended to the United Party when it became the Government. He was confident that, given the opportunity, they would be able to present a programme of constructive legislation that would command public approval. Mr Holland announced that he would visit the main centres of his electorate before Easter, and as soon as possible after the Easter holidays he would undertake a Dominion tour in fulfilment of his promise given at the beginning of the year.