ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 10

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

EEFORM AND LIQUOR. TRADE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WESTPOET, 17th June. In the course of a pre-sessional address at Seddonville last, evening, Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, predicted that tho forthcoming session would be the most interesting of the present Parliament, inasmuch as it would test whether the Government intended to make any serious endeavour to honour the promises which were lavishly given in the 192*5 election cam-, paign. Last session was a blank in ibis respect. Personally, he did not expect that there would be' any great difference this year. He intimated that the Opposition would challenge the Government's policy as reflected in the Prime Minister's attitude affecting the co-op-erative marketing of the Dominion's primary products and the problem of unemployment. An uncompromising Opposition would also opposo tho Singapore Base contribution.

Mr. Holland devoted a good deal of time to criticism of the Government for its failure to carry out the necessary public works, and their lethargy in the matter of coal and timber importations. Ho expressed the opinion that because there were sharp divisions in the ranks of the Eeform Party the Prime Minister would not find it possible to live up to his pre-election promises to the Liquor Trade. Mr. Coates's difficulty was that while ho had committed himself in one direction, many members of the party had pledged themselves in the opposite way. This was. undoubtedly the reason why the Licensing Bill was jettisoned last session. In the event of tho Bill being re-introduced this year Mr. Holland said the Opposition would endeavour to secure an amendment providing for voting in order of preference while there were more than two issues on the ballot paper. This would ensure an absolute majority decision.