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Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 7

Sir Robert Horne (Con., Hillhead, Glasgow), a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, thanked Mr. Snowden for one of the gravest warnings ever uttered from the Treasury Bench. It would brace the country to a new view of its responsibilities and duties. But in spite of the grave warning Mr. Snowden had allowed the introduction of a series of bills all involving large expenditure, such as the School Leaving Ag© and the Land Bills. The Government had had every chance and opportunity, but had improvidently spent the nation's sustenance and depleted the country's resources. The President of the Board of Trade, Mr. W. Grahaiu, in replying, said whatever Government had been in office would have been faced with a similar crisis. The enormous growth of unemployment was due mainly to the fall in commodity prices. He saw little sign that bottom had yet been touched. There was no need for pessimism or despair, but for sustained and enlightened constructive optimism, realising that the country could survive and build up a far greater world trade than ever before.

The Conservative motion was defeated by 310 votes to 235. The Liberal amendment was challenged only by the Left Wing Labour members, and was carried by 468 votes to 21.