GENERAL ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11470, 26 October 1931, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

"HR, HOLLAND’S COAOIENTS. REFORM NOW IN COMMAND OF GOVERNMENT. COALITION ASSERTIONS r/V RIDICULED. LONG LIST. OF BROKEN • PLEDGES. . (Press Association.^ WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. The Leader of the Opposition today issued the following statement: “It is gratifying that tho efforts of tho Opposition, backed by public opinion,, have - resulted in . the abandonment of, tho Prime Minister’s, pro. po.fal fob disfranchise :fcbo electors. Hr. Forbes first raised'the question in a definite form when fie arbitrarily .ended . tho work of. tho Special Economic Committee. He then insisted that! before he would permit iho committee to proceed with its deliberations there must bo an agreement to form a- national Government and to postpone the election. Labor' members of tho committee at that time offered the strongest opposition to any postponement, and .since then the Labor Party has con-.-.isiently demanded that Parliament should take the verdict of tho constituencies at the usual time. •‘lt was inevitable that fiho Reform and Ended Parties should eventually come together in an. effort to rave off a Labor victory. Within recent times their respective programmes (have had much in common, and whatever differences may have existed between them have now vanished. During the. past 12 months there has been a complete jettisoning of the programme on which Sir Joseph Ward secured support in 1028, and unconditional acceptance by Mr. Forbes of the policy of the Reform Party. Tho last vestige of the principles put forward by the party formerly led by Hr. BallancQ and Mr'. Soddon has now disappeared, and the historic enemj ies of the two democratic statesmen named are -in comma nd of the remnant that, is claimed to he their polificnl successors. MR. COATES MAKES OWN TERMS. "In the Coalition, the Reform Party is predominant, ft holds nearly ail the major portfolios'; it has succeeded in driving out of tho Ministerial camp mon like Sir Thomas Si dev and Air. H. Atmoro, and it has been able to impose its own policy on the programme of it s erstwhile opponents. For all practical purposes the Reform Party is now Pnc Government, notwithstanding its devastating defeat in 1928, This is borne out by Air. Coates when, m bis appeal to supporters and selected candidates of the Reform Party to accept the now situation, he intim-* ateg that; the party will maintain its separate identity and will not sacrifice its traditions.

NOTHING NEW IN FINANCIAL STRESS WARNING.

“In tho statement issued by Mr. Coates hd declares that the grave financial stress and danger disclosed bv tho evidence submitted to the Special Economic Committee is the reason for the alliance formed between ihe Reform and United Party. As si member of the Special Economic Committee, I have no hesitation in .savins that nothing whatever, was disclosed to that committee that was not already known to its members. The real reason for the alliance' — about which I have no right whatever to complain—is the mutual recognition of the grave political stress and danger menacing both parties because of the unpopularity of their in- * L effective nnd unscientific programmes . and the disastrous nature of their 1 legislative and administrative acts. DISHONORED PROAIISES.. -<I ain sure the country will await with much interest the assurance or the comprehensive plan for the general rehabilitation of cc ™ o ™^ life of the Dominion which Mr Coatm tells us the Government has forked «n,it There is something particularly inapplicable. and ■touch of humor, m Mr iotM statement that as a result of t o Coalition, the finances of the Dojnnij ion will be maintained on a souna and stable basis, and that ihe high reputation of New Zealand for honor land integrity will be m safe hand,. Safo han<is can hardly be said to ele scribe adequately politicians -who have dishonored every to the electors, and who ha>o warded mo Contract, with cither the "bnoral" public, State ■■ employees or £ago workers as worth the paper it -was written on.

VOTING DAY SHOULD TVE made known.

"The Labor Party, in. booping w.th : u repealed pronouncements, will fncilitAte.' th<,work ol the Honso m order that thorn ahall bo no delay in rrohiC before the electors The definite da*o on which the elections will be held should bo made public without delay. The Governments may Impei to reap some petty advantage hvkeeping the information within ■itr. own party, ,hut the elector* are entitled to know. A. regret ah o - ture is the absence of businesslike methods in matters of such intense public importance as this.' 1

THE FIRST HITCH

DENEDTN SOUTH SEAT

■reformer will not retire I FOR MR. TLVERNER A '

{press Association.) DUNEDIN, Oct. 24. Tlio decision to hold the election ra oet s with genera! approval. The p eform and United parties m Dunedin have alroadv agreed that Mr. James Taylor will bo .unopposed in his candidature for the Dunedin North seat against Mr. Munro. Similarly the Hon . V. Dor m ° f’aewart and Sir {Charles St at t. am have only Labor opponents for the West “and Central seats The position' of Dupcdm South is mere complicated M>. W. Jones ; the Labor candidate against -Mr. W 3. Taverner, but Mr. D. C. Cameron firmly expressed his intention lately not to retire as the Deform candidate. masterton seat. INDEPENDENT FUSIONIST OPENS CAMPAIGN. (Press Association) WOODVILLE, Oct. 24. Mr Arthur 11. Vile, who opened his campaign in Masterton.as an Tndopendecti Fusroaist. candidate fore the s formation of the Coalition Government, has intimated his irrevocable decision to contest the Masterton seat/as a jjermanont Fumon* sst. How contends that if the. two, moderate .parties can agree, on major Issues tihev -should have no difficulty ini combining my <n\n»r- questions. While ho would give general support to the .Coalition Government, he reserves tlio- right to criticise details of its policy. . ■ • '* '

(Continued from previous column)

POSITION OF INDEPENDENTS

AIR LYSNAR RETICENT

Rogardin g the . election announcement, the Dominion makes the following comment ■ regarding: the position of Independents in the House: “It is likely that the small group of Independents in the House exce.pt Mr W. J..,Pplson and Mr W. D. Lysnar, will go, to the country as _ a distinct entity, and that they _ will issue a manifesto. It is of interest that the weight of opinion among the Independents inclines against the support of the Government, although at one stage after the formation of the Coalition they were in fayor of the new lino of actinterviewed on the matter last evening, Mr Lysnar intimated that he did not wish to make, any statement in the meantime, since the decision to hold an election had been reached after- his departure from Wellington on Friday. Mr Lysnar added, however, that it was his firm intention to contest the Gisborne seat.