"POLITICAL MYSTERY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 255, 28 October 1930, Page 8

"POLITICAL MYSTERY."

"WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN?" THE ARBITRATION BILL. ALLEGED BREACH OF FAITH. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A special political myetery is more than hinted at by the "Dominion"' in an editorial to-day. It refers to the scones early last Saturday morning when the Arbitration Amendment, Act was under discussion, with every prospect of its final defeat, after many hours' exhausting stonewalling. This discussion had been interposed between the second and third readings of the Appro-

priation Bill, <as it was realised that with the adoption of the latter no more business could bo' done. A stage was reached when the hopelessness of passing the Arbitration Act in the dying stages of the session became clear'to everyone, and therefore Mr. Ransom, acting-Prime Minister, moved the adjournment,of the debate. This was carried, enabling the House to proceed with the final stages of the Appropriation Bill. Labour members .then made indignant protests against an alleged breach of faith by the Government. I '

' That they are on insecure-grounds in this onslaught'is suggested by. the "Dominion," which, in reviewing the incident,'.. states: "Meanwhile -tho /actingPrime Minister, and the Minister of Labour have been accused of breaking faith with the Labour party. It may be that for the sake of security they will be- content to rest; under,.these ■ imputations. On the other hand, •an explanation may bo forthcoming, as , --to 'who killed Cock Robin/ or, in other words, how Mr. Eansom came to propose the motion that gave the bill its deathblow."