NO OBSTRUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 40, 15 August 1930, Page 8

NO OBSTRUCTION

ATTITUDE OF EEFOBM

MEMBERS' REPUDIATION

The remarks made by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, criticising the Reform Party for deliberately obstructing the passage of the Customs Amendment Bill were the subject of subsequent reference from the Eeforia benches shortly before the House ad-

journed.

The Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said he thought Mr. Forbes's remarks had been made in the heat of the moment. Far from the Reform Party obstructing the business, he declared that it was the other way entirely, and that encouragement had been given. He thought the Prime Minister had had the spirit of reasonableness shown that had been guaranteed him.

The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland): "But you remonstrated with some of your members and asked them not to speak."

Mr. Coates: "I-did; quite a number of them." . •■ '

Mr. Holland: "You thought they were going over the odds, then."

Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames) said that the Government had repudiated or practically denied responsibility for its own Budget proposals. The ; Prime Minister had accused the Opposition of obstruction which ho had said was deliberate and arranged. Mr. Samuel said he believed Mr. Forbes had made that statement because ho was tired, having been up all night, and he did not think Mr. Forbes made it in all seriousness. If he did, then it was a most unwarranted charge to j level at the Opposition, because right! through the passage of the Bill the Opposition had done . everything possible to facilitate the proceedings. Mr. D. M'Dougall (United, Mataura): "They have not." NO CHEAP SNEERS. j Mr. Samuel said that if the Opposition had not pointed out the injustices that the Bill inflicted on the community they would not have been doing their duty. Personally he had not heard the cheap sneers the Reform benches which Mr. Forbes alleged had been made in regard to his trip to I the Imperial Conference. He had heard nothing said;even in a sarcastic manner about the impending trip. Someone might have made a reference in a jocular manner to the proposed trip. In making a comparison between the three parties in the House, the Prime Minister had deliberately picked out the Reform "Party for eastigation, and it appeared that that had been the result of aconference between the other sections of the House.

A voice: "There is no foundation for that."

Mr. Samuel: "I make that statement because it seemed fairly obvious to this side- of the House that such a course was being undertaken, and it was with feelings of resentment that, we noticed that fiction." The Prime Minister could not complain about the passage of the Bill; He must knowthat any Bill of a contentions nature must be discussed on its merits.