POLITICAL SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 8

POLITICAL SITUATION

OUTLOOK FOR GOVERNMENT

BANKS INDEMNITY BILL'

Crowded galleries are. expected in the House of Representatives this afternoon and this evening to hear further speeches in the resumed debate on the second reading of the Banks Indemnity (Exchange) Bill. It should prove one of the most interesting days of the session, for not for some years .has interest in the political situation run so high, both inside and outside of Parliament. The main speaker from the Labour benches to-day will be the Deputy. Leader of the party, Mr. M. J. Savage, who represents Auckland West. Ho will probably be followed by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Bausom), a practical farmer whosa opinions always win the respect of the House. Early in the evening the 'ex-' Minister of Finance (the Hon W Dovrw Stewart), whose attitude-over the exchange question- precipitated a Cabinet crisis, will enter into the debate, and an expression of his views — the first since he announced- his resignation from Cabinet— will be awaited with keen,interest. _ It is not anticipated that a vote on Mr. Holland's no-confidence "amendment will be reached until to-morrow 3TE* Earlier were that the Government would be assured of a comfortable majority, but it it stated in the lobbies that some members who have been more or less wavering may now go so'far as to vote against the Government. It is not suggested that the Government is in danger of being defeated, but its majority may not be so large as was originally anticipated. In any event, the division' list will be of outstanding interest. - 6 ATTITUDE OF THE UPPER HOUSE. Once the Bill is passed by the House interest will centre on the Legislative Council, which, although it has no power to amend the measure, is entitled to throw it'out. Lobby opinion is that there, will be strong opposition to the BUI m the Council, and one Councillor' said this morning that it was possible that there was a majority in the Council against' the measure. At the same tome he did not anticipate that the Bill would be defeated, as members of the Council were not likely to accept the responsibility of defeating what was one of the major policy measures of the Government. Several bromment members, of the Council, are known to be strongly opposed fo the artificial raising of the exchange^fand. they are expected to place their views on record in no uncertain manner. _ W*hile it is generally agreed.in the lobbies that the Government is! safe so far as the exchange question is concerned, there is a feeling that .on" some other-aspects of jts policy the Government is likely to experience some clos« calls. . -/.