CRITICAL, BUT UNHELPFUL

Evening Star, Issue 21284, 13 December 1932, Page 3

CRITICAL, BUT UNHELPFUL

PREMIER OH LABOUR PARTY POLITICAL CREDIT ITS AIM [From Our Parmamentarv Reporter.] WELLINGTON. December 12. ” We are starting on our programme of work,” remarked the Prime Minister, when informing your correspondent that Cabinet had commenced meetings. *' We will continue a regular programme of meetings till near Christmas, take a little spell over the holidays, and resume immediately afterwards.” The comment of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) on the session’s work was brought to the notice of Mr Forbes, who declared that Mr Holland, who declined the opportunity once offered him of joining in an effort to rehabilitate the dominion and take bis share of Cabinet responsibility for the necessary measures, was using hi? freedom for criticism in a way which could not help in the great task Cabinet is now getting time to undertake. ” Mr Holland.” he continued, ” affects to believe that the amendment to the Finance Rill moved by his deputy contains an effective policy, lint most people know that it was a political move by those to whom political credit is still of more importance than anything else. Alt possible expedients and remedies arc catalogued in the amendment which the House rejected, hut one can conceive how, in time to come, whatever policy the Government evolves to deal with the economic position, the Labour Opposition hopes to be able to point to some item in its long catalogue as embodying the principles adopted. They hope to he able to say ‘ We told you so early last December.’ or as an alternative. if we adopted any one of the remedies enumerated, their policy will he to object that there were much better ones included, which they preferred. The tone of their whole criticism has never been helpful, and it is hopeless to expect co-operation of any kind from the Labour Party. My own experience of inviting them to co-operate is that they utilise their opportunities to secure material for party attacks on the Government.”