DIVIDED OPINIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21076, 13 April 1932, Page 9

DIVIDED OPINIONS

* THE COALITION PARTY MINISTERS’ TROUBLES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, April 13., There were no developments to-day in connection with the move started by a number of Coalition members to induce the Government to modify its policy as contained in the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill. Outwardly Mr Forbes does not appear to be perturbed over the situation, but the feeling in the lobbies is that the head of the Government has been given “ furiously to think ” by the representations that have been made to aim. It is stated also that there was no mincing of words by one member, who interviewed the Prime Minister yesterday. Questioned this morning over the reported formation of a hostile group, Mr Forbes declared that he knew of no cave within the Coalition Party, and smilingly asked who was responsible for its discovery. He said he was prepared to admit that there were some differences over the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill, but he asked interviewing pressmen if anybody really liked the measure. “The Bill is necessary, hut nobody can describe it as popular,” he added. The first definite outcome of the meetings held by the dissenting section of the Coalition was the submission to Mr Forbes and Mr Stewart yesterday afternoon of a proposition that the increase of the wage tax to Is 6d in the £ would be a practical alternative to the proposed Public Service wage cut. Opinions vary as to the reception accorded this proposal, but it was stated in the lobbies that Ministers were not unimpressed. On the other hand some bold the view that Mr Forbes, while prepared to consider alternatives, will not depart materially from his original proposals. In the meantime members of the Labour Party are awaiting with the greatest interest the views that the members known to be associated with the movement may express during the second reading debate on the contentious Bill