PARTY DIFFERENCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 37, 12 August 1914, Page 3

PARTY DIFFERENCES

GOVERNMENT AND THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. The waters of Parliament, which have been exceptionally calm since the outbreak of the war, were slightly ruffled yesterday afternoon, when the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill was brought down by Governor's Message. Sir Joseph Ward said he had no idea what the Bill contained, but he thought the Opposition ought to have been apprised of it, in order that it might, aa it proposed to do, give its unanimous support to it. He could only express the surprise of the Opposition—«nd he said it with regret —that at a grave crisis in the history of the Empire and when they knew, that consideration must be given to very important financial matters, a different course was being pursued to that adopted in any other country. He was not going to place any difficulties in the way of the Opposition giving every assistance to the passing of the Bill, and he was calling attention to the matter with very great regret. The duty of the Opposition was to help in such a crisis, but he did think that it was a matter of ordinary consideration that the Opposition, which intended to facilitate the Government's legislation, should be informed, through the leader, of the Government's requirements. It was a complete departure from the practice of other Governments, including that of England. The Hon. J. Allen said he had not the slightest intention of being the cause of any grievance. He could not agree that the Government was pursuing a policy different to that pursued by any other country. As far as he knew the Government had -adopted the policy pursued elsewhere in bringing down its financial proposals. * Sir Joseph Ward : You look at the cables during the past few days. The Hon. J. Allen said that if Sir Joseph Ward felt that he had not sufficient time to make himself acquainted with the details of the Bill at this stage, he would have very much pleasure in asking the Prime Minister to postpone its second reading until to-morrow, or any other <day that the right honourable gentleman desired. The main object of the Bill was to provide finance under the conditions that now exist. There was no desire on the part of the GovernI ment to hurry it through. Such a J thing never occurred to him, nor did he think that it occurred to the Prime Minister. Mr. Wilford: It is courtesy, that's all. Hon. J. Allen : I don't usually accuse myself of a want of courtesy. I had no intention of being discourteous. There is no urgent necessity for the Bill to go through to-day. It can be postponed until to-morrow. Dr. Newman, suggested that the Prime Minister and the Hon. J. Allen should resign their seats, and that the member for Awarua should run the country. Mr. Ell said the want of harmony miist be most painful to every member of the House. If on an occasion like this, when an important • Bill was being brought down, it would only have been courtesy to have informed the Leader of the Opposition of it. It was a great pity such an incident had occurred. The Prime Minister assured the Right Hon. the Leader of the Opposition and his followers that theTe was no intention of discourtesy in connection with the bringing down of the Bill. It was a Bill of some importance, brought down in the ordinary way by Governor's Message. The "Government was not going on with it to-day. It was proposed to take it to-morrow. He could not recollect any occasion when it was considered necessary to give notice to the • Opposition of the bringing down of a Bill by Governor's Message. As far as the business of the House was concerned, he did not propose after that day to sit in the afternoons. They proposed to sit at 7.30 p.m. each day, bo as to allow committees to go on with their work, some of which was of veTy great importance. Concluding a debate which was conducted on similar lines, the Prime Minister said the Ministry had called in the Leader of the Opposition on many occasions to confer with Hie Excellency the Governor and the Ministry. He did not know what more was wanted. The difference in Australia avhs that Parliament there had been dissolved. He did not believe ' Parliament was sitting in Canada either. The Leader of the Opposition could surely have nothing to complain of. They had taken the Leader of the Opposition and intended to take him into their, confidence in every way. (Hear, hear.) If it had not been for extreme pressure of business he would haVe called in the Leader of the Opposition that morning as he intended to do. , (Hear, hear.) The BUI was then read a first time.