UNITED PARTY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 10

UNITED PARTY.

! PROMISE AND PER FORMANCE. CRITICS CRITICISED. j [THE PRESS Social Serrice.] July 1?. I The Address-in-Kcpi}- debate wa*

considerable enlivened this evening when Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) treated the House and galleries to a bright and yet forceful disquisition on the policy adopted by the United Party. Mr Samuel said that prior to the elections the United Party had made a definite statement that the unemployment problem would be solved when it took office, but this had not come about. The hon. member for Central Otago apparently had a grudge against the 92 squatters in his district, and held thorn responsible for the unemployment position that existed. If this unwarranted aggregation of land had been going on for years past, it should have been the hon. member's duty, as a public man, to expose those contract*

before. It had been stated, continued Mr Samuel, that the policy of the United Partv would restore economic stability, and he asked the hon. member how it was to be brought about. After eight months in office had the United Party brought about any sign of returning confidence in the Government? On the contrary, millions of money were lying idle, an"d the unemployment position was worse than before. The seconder of the motion, said MrSamuel, had expressed the hope that the Parties would work together for the good of the country. He had, however, said that the Reform Party had had no land policy. In his own district, land which before the Reform Party had come into power was a waste of fern had become rich and smiling territory under its administration. He was pleased to learn from the member for Poskill that the Government intended to enter upon a comprehensive laDd policy. If that policy were carried out, the Government would, he felt sure, have tho support of the whole Parliament.

A United member: Why didn't your Party do it?

Mr Samuel: There, the old parrot cry again! W T hy didn't you do this, and why didn't you do that? If the late Government didn't do it, well, it's over here now and yon are over there. Let us see what you can do now. Proceeding, Mr Samuel said that he intended to deal with wheat duties much as it hurt him to bring the matter up. (Laughter.) There was not the slightest doubt that the member for Roskill started well when he said that he was against the wheat duties, and that he was pledged to remove them, but he was forced to climb down from a position made untenable for him because some of his front bench colleagues were not in favour of his stand, so he "crayfished" out of the position and added the words "or reduce." Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North): It was a way out. Mr Samuel: They -will have to find many ways out yet, and I will be interested to see what the hon. member has to say to his constituents later. Continuing, Mr Samuel said that he did not complain about the fact that there was little in the Governor-Gen-eral's Speech, for he had not expected there would be anything in it, but what he did expect was a full recital of the Government's programme from the floor of the House. After the elections, Cabinet Ministers went through the country asking that as a new Government they should get a run. Ho asked that if they did not now carry out their policy they should certainly get a run! (Laughter.) During the course of the debate there had been many challenges from the United benches with regard to the outcome of another election. "I advise hon. members on the other side of the House," said Mr Samuel, "to be a little more subdued, to show a trifle more humility, and not bo much arrogance." The country could not have any confidence in the present administration or the present position would not exist. The country waa to be ushered into an era of peace and prosperity, according to the •tatements made by the United Party, but, instead of that, stark misery and unprecedented economic unrest prevailed in the land. The reason was that no one would invest money, having no confidence in the present Government. The lack of stability in the country kept the money tied up in the banks. He ventured to say that had it not been for" the mana of their leader, Sir Joseph Ward, the United Party would never have come into power. They would admit themselves that they had only one man among them. Their manifesto itself stated as much.

A United Member: Who'a throwing bricks now? Mr Samuel: This is a bouquet, but it has a little cayenne pepper in it! (Beform laughter.) Mr Samuel then asked the House to consider the ludicrous position of a team of 13 horses of which one was a worker and the other 12 were loafers. Mr C. Carr (Timaru): What about the man who gets things donct Mr Samuel: Well, he's done now. (Laughter.) Proceeding, Mr Samuel paid a high tribute to the worth of the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), and said that after the years of work he had given to the country he was pleased to see that the Bight Hon. gentleman had at last reaped his reward.