LABOUR AND LIBERALS.

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1922, Page 6

LABOUR AND LIBERALS.

QUESTION OF AN UNDERSTANDING. WELLINGTON, July 15. A rumour of recent negotiations between the Liberal Party and the Labour Party, or between sections of the parties, had more than an echo in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The leader of the Labour Party (Mr IL E. Holland) was talking, and he reminded tho House that tho leader of the Liberal Party (Mr Wilford) ha 1 declared that h*e never would associate himself politically with the Labour i men. Mr Wilford: Hear, hear. Mr Holland: Is it not a fact less than a week ago the Liberal Parly i was ready to enter into an understanding with the Labour Party? Ylr Wilford: I say no. Mr Holland: For Hie purpose of securing proportional representation? Mr Wilford: No. Mr Holland: Will the han member agree to have every card placed on tho table? Mr Wilford: Yes. Mr Holland: All right, I will place them on the tab'c r.t >.<: next sitting of the House. The Liberals were ready to hold ofliee with tic support of the Labour Party Io get proportion al representation. Mr Atmore: That is not true. Mr Holland: With the consent of the parties concerned, I will put the. cards on tho table. Mr Wilford: I have given my consent. Mr Holland: The day has gone when a man could take to one attitude in secret and another in public. The Labour Party is not standing for that. Did you notice the change of attitude immediately tho Auckland conference was over? However, lam not going to deal with that any further. I want to say that tho ordinary prerogatives of honour demand that we shall not take up one attitude in secret, and another in public. The lender of tho Labour Party proceeded to declare that the real line of political demarcation in Parliament was between the men who sat on tho Labour benches, and the mon who sat on tho Government benches. Presently another interjection from Mr Atmore drew his fire, “The honourable gentleman had better not interrupt,” said Mr Holland. Mr Atmore: Y'ou cannot intimidate. Mr Holland: We may look into your past connection with the R«eform Party. Mr Atmore denied that there had been any connection. Mr Holland: Then your dependence upon them. The incident closed there—at all events for the time being—but Mr Holland had said enough to make many members curious for further information.