POLITICAL SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 20421, 28 February 1930, Page 8

POLITICAL SITUATION

SIGNIFICANT REFERENCES BY MINISTERS UNPARALLELED CONDITIONS fSpECIAT. TO THE StAK.'] WELLINGTON, February 2b. “ There is no, parallel to the conditions which, exist in our Parliament," remarked Sir Thomas Sidey, in the course of significant references to the situation at tho dinner of the New Zealand Accountants’ Society, His hearers knew (he said),that the Government was holding office on sufferance Times wore difficult, with unemployment and the fall ip the prices of produce causing diminished spending power apiong the people. All this made tho times anxious.

“ And noth withstanding this,” he added, “ our difficulties have not been made any lighter by the members ot our own organisation. Notwithstanding these difficulties, even up to date this Parliament has seine noteworthy things to its credit.” .Acknowledging the references of the president to tho Prime Minister, Sir Thomas expressed appreciation, particularly because some recent references to Sir Joseph Ward had not been so generous. Sir Joseph had spent a lifetime in the service of the people, and this long effort must have been a contributing cause to his illness. When Sir Joseph Ward was asked to place ills long experience at the disposal of the United Party ho might well have declined, saying ho had richly deserved a rest. Therefore, the speaker could hardly conceive anyone with generous instincts, no matter what ids # politics, failing to extend to the Prime Minister tho utmost consderation in his prose at condition. (Applause,) Accountants owed their incorporation to the present Premier, for their _ measure, after fa>ng to secure adoption in the hands of private members for three vears was taken up by the Government. placed in Sir Joseph Ward s hands, and passed. Next session was supposed to be the working session or Parliament, but if his heaters believed all they heard, the Government was not going to get an opportunity. However, its legislative programme was more forward than was usual at this date. “ We are a minority Government, declared Mr Taverner (Minister of Railways), in a brief reference to the situation, hut the only way is to nail our colours to the mast and go ahead, no matter what tho result.