OPPOSITION REQUEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 10

OPPOSITION REQUEST

FINANCIAL CRISIS

MR. SAVAGE REFUSES

Consequent upon a resolution passed at the caucus of Opposition mdmbers yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition (the "Hon. Adam Hamilton) last night wrote to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) asking that Parliament be called together immediately so that consideration might be given to the present financial and economic situation. Today Mr. Savage replied to Mr. Hamilton, declining the request on the ground that circumstances do not at present warrant the summoning of Parliament. The following is the text of the letter sent by Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Savage:— I have to convey to you a decision arrived at by the Parliamentary members of the National Party at a caucus meeting held in Wellington today: the decision was as follows:— That in view of the state of emergency now existing in the country's affairs, this caucus of his Majesty's Loyal Opposition requests that the Government immediately call Par- , liament together to give the people's elected representatives their traditional right to consider the present financial and economic crisis, and of applying lawful remedies thereto, and of considering such other matters of urgent national importance as, for example, the national defence of New Zealand. That the Government's refusal, to disclose to the people • during the General Election campaign the alarming facts which have since been made public constitutes a grave betrayal of public confidence. In view of the importance and urgency of the present situation, the members of the Opposition hold themselves in readiness to assemble in Parliament at short notice so that no time will be lost in dealing with these questions before the situation drifts any further. I trust that you will give favourable consideration to this request, and I shall be pleased to receive an early j reply.