‘LEFTISTS PRODDING THE GOVERNMENT’

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1949, Page 7

‘LEFTISTS PRODDING THE GOVERNMENT’

WELLINGTON, September 1 (P.A.).—“Politically the Labour Party has now no real idea of where its policy and administration are heading,” said Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, St Albans), speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives today. “I believe the Left Wing members know where they want to go, and they do their best to prod the Government along the Socialistic road.

“The Government itself, after 14 years in office, has no clear idea of the ends at which it is aiming, and I am convinced that in the Government and the Cabinet we have the greatest bunch of Tories this country has ever known or is likely to know for a long time to come.”

Mr Watts said the Government’s planning* gave the country little chance to expand or change. Only a free enterprise system with the necessary checks and balances and rules for good conduct, arid fluidity and ability to change and adapt, could bring material progress with a maximum level of security. “The Government has run out of constructive, political ideas for_ the good of the community,” Mr Watts said. Misrepresentation Of Remark In House WELLINGTON, Sept 1 (P.A.I.— Continuing the Budget debate tonight Mr F. W. Doidge (Oppn, Tauranga) said Opposition members were accustomed to have their statements misrepresented and distorted. Last week Mr E. R. Neale (Oppn., Nelson) was speaking of three small non-produc-tive departments, including the Maori Affairs Department in which staff and expenditure had risen sharply. Mr Doidge continued: “I recalled and quoted a laconic interjection of the late Admiral Fisher: ‘Sack the lot!’ — Immediately, Government members saw an opportunity of creating an impression that I had threatened to sack all public servants. Public servants today hate and detest the Government, and put their faith in the National Party, knowing they have nothing to fear from it.” -