"CHOICE OF EVILS."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 12

"CHOICE OF EVILS."

LABOUR CHOOSES UNITED.

MR. HOLLAND EXPLAINS

SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT,

(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.,*

WELLINGTON, this day,

The Leader of the Labour party (Mr. H. E. Holland) was delightfully frank when explaining his refusal of the Reform challenge to him to support the amendment moved by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, tonicrht on the Customs Amendment BUI, providing the confirmation of the primage duty. . Mr. Coates moved the amendment m the following terms: "That on the assumption that increased revenue is required from Customs taxation, m the opinion of this House such increased revenue should be obtained from taxation of luxury items, particularly those of foreign origin, and not of articles affecting° the cost of living and production." Finance Necessary. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, Acitng Leader of the House, remarked that if carried this amendment would prevent the Government from getting the revenue it looked on as absolutely necessary to keep the finances of the country on a sound basis; therefore it must be taken as a motion of no-confidence. The Labour party, he explained, had stressed the importance of keeping down the cost of living when the proposals were first introduced, and its view had carried weight, as a result of which the Government had made concessions in regard to extra primage on foodstuffs and fertilisers. Answering a suggestion that the Government was going against its election pledges, Mr. Forbes declared that although it was not always possible to do so in the first year, those promises would be carried out. At the same time the Government was not going to embark on any policy of frenzied finance, and it had braved the unpopular task of balancing the Budget in the interests of the country, irrespective of party. "The Book of Doom." Mr. Holland, in announcing Labour support for the Government, referred to the neglected opportunity of Reform to take off the original primage duty. Producing a "Hansard" of December, 1921, he remarked: "This is the book of doom so far as some people are concerned." He created merriment by reading out division lists, showing that the Reform speakers prominent in supporting the present amendment, had voted against putting a number of foodstuffs on the free list, this attitude being taken on fifteen divisions. The Government, under present conditions, must take the amendment as a motion of no-confidence, and the Leader of the Opposition must admit it.

Mr. Coates: And you must vote (Laughter.)

Mr. Holland: lam quite easy. I pledged myself long ago that when it came to a question of putting the Reform party back on the Treasury benches I would prefer the present Government as the lesser of two evils. (Laughter.) I would turn the present Government out of office to-morrow, provided the Labour party could take its place.