POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1927, Page 6

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

ME. HOLLAND. In the ecur.se of a* pre-sessional add vess at Scddonville Air. Holland, Leadof the Opposition, predicted. that the forthcoming session would be the nhoi interesting of the present parliament, inasmuch as it would tent whether the Government intended to make any serious endeavour to honour the promises which were lavishly given in the IJIS .election campaign. Last session was blank in thia respect and personally he did no. !••• ■ there would be any great diffcrr’.r. this year. He intimated that the Oppy.'.t ion would challenge the Governments s policy, as reflected in the i ister’s attitude affecting the c-i-oprr ative marketing of the Dominion’s dairy produce, and the problem of unemployment. An uncompromising op position would also be offered the Singapore Base contribution. Mr. Holland devoted a good deal of time to criticism of the Government for the failure to carry out the necessary public works, and their lethargy in the matter of coal and timber importations. He expressed the opinion that because there were sharp divisions in the ranks of the Reform Party, the Prime Minister would not find it possible to live up to his pre-election promises to the liquor trade. Mr. Coates’s difficulty was, while he had committed himself in one direction, many members of his party pledged themselves in the opposite way. This was undoubtedly the reason why the Licensing'Bill was jettisoned last session. In the event of the bill being introduced this year, Mr. Holland said, the Opposition would endeavour to secure an amendment, providing for voting in order of preference while there were more than two issues on the ballot paper, This would ensure an absolute majority in the decision.