LABOUR'S FUTURE BACKBONE.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 1, 1 July 1926, Page 10

LABOUR'S FUTURE BACKBONE.

If the hopes of Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) are realised, the farmers will in a few years be solidly in support of the Labour Party. "Before many years," he declared in the .House of Representatives last evening, ,"it will be found that the farmers are the backbone of the Labour Party. That has been proved in countries where Labour has ruled for a number of yeara." Ho instanced Queensland, where he said tho Labour Government went into power in the first year of the war opposed bitterly by a very large percentage of the farming community.' Tho Minsiter of Lands (the Hon. A. D. M'Leod): "There is more unemployed there than anywhere else in Australia.'' Mr. Armstrong: "That is not true, Mr. Speaker." / Mr. Speaker took exception to such a direct denial, whereupon Mr. Armstrong withdrew the remark and said the statement was not correct. , Mr. P. Frasor (Wellington Contral): "It is ridiculous." Mr. Armstrong: "If the honourable membor knew what ho is speaking about ho would know there is less unemployment in Queensland than in any other Australian State, and that provision has also beon made for providing for unemployment." Mr. M'Leod remarked that the figures were against it. The speaker pointed out that the Queensland Government, after eleven years' experience, had been returned again with its largest majority, and that it had won in practically every farming electorate. Mr. M'Leod: "By jockeying the electors." . .