THE COUNTRY QUOTA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 17, 1 November 1935, Page 3

THE COUNTRY QUOTA

LABOUR PARTY’S ATTITUDE.

SPEECH BY THE LEADER.

(Pei - Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 31. A crowded audience- greeted the leader of the Opposition Mr M.- JSavage) when he addressed the elec tors of Auckland West to-night, before his tour of the Dominion. In replying to a statement made by Sir Alfred Ransom at Dannevirke that the country quota was the hidden pait of Labour’s policy, Mr Savage sa that although the principle of t e country quota was wrong, the Labom Party had not the slightest intention of altering the electoral system -during the life of the first Labour Governm “Labour has to gain the Treasury Benches with the electoral law as it is,” said Mr Savage, ‘‘and its first period of office will be fu ly occupied in cleaning up the mess left by its predecessors and in implementing i s own social and economic policy for the restoration of prosperity to the Dominion.” . , ~ If the Labour Party occupied its time in tinkering with the electoral laws instead of going to the assistance of those who were in difficulties, it would deserve to he cast out lor ail time, said Mr 'Savage. The story of the life of the present Government revealed a policy of maladministration and economic madness on the pai o the Ministers, which should be brought to an end as speedily as possible. Labour would not follow the bad cxample set by the Coalition Government when it extended its own h o and the life of Parliament without the consent of the people. • A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Savage and the Labour Party was carried.