TALK OF AN ELECTION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 93, 3 April 1934, Page 8

TALK OF AN ELECTION

Labour Urged to Prepare

MR. SAVAGE GIVES WARNING

By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, April 2.

A warning to members of the Labour Party to be prepared in the event of an early appeal to the electors was given by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage, in replying to a welcome by the Mayor, Mr D. G, Sullivan, M.P., to delegates to the annual conference of the party.

“I suggest that you should be ready for anything,” said Mr Savage. ‘‘One never knows in a political fight what may be attempted, and the battle may take place in a few weeks’ time. We do not know the internal position of the Government itself. Most of us know the difficulties under which it is labouring and the futile attempts it is making in these days of depression, but for all wc know the Coalition Government may shortly be a thing of the past. In that event you may be called upon to exercise the greatest of all privileges—your right to govern.” Mr Savage said he believed with all sincerity that if given an opportunity at the next election, the Labour Party would never let the people down. It would go into the battle fully believing it could make good all the promises it had made in the past and those that would be made during the campaign.

MR. FORBES’ REPLY

By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, April 2. “ The wish is father to that thought,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, commenting on the suggestion by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage, that an early election might happen because of the internal position of the Government. The remarks were made at the Mayor’s welcome to delegates attending the Labour Party conference. ‘‘What is troubling the Labour Party is that we have worked so smoothly and harmoniously together ever since the Coalition was formed. There is no foundation for Mr Savage’s implication that trouble inside the Coalition may bring about an early election. The Labour Party cannot understand anyone who puts tho country before the party. Wc, however, have done that and shall continue to do that while the country is in its present difficult position,”

LABOUR’S DIFFICULTIES

By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 2. Tho odds against which the Labour Party had to fight during the last session of Parliament were referred to in the report of the Parliamentary Labour Party which was presented to the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party by Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., to-day. The report stated that legislation passed during the session had made it clearer than ever that the only hope of redress for those bearing the brunt of tho depression lay in a Labour victory at the polls. It was evident that there was a great deal of dissatisfaction in the ranks of the Coalition Party over the Reserve Bank Bill, as there was when the exchange rate was increased, but it was made just as evident that the disgruntled section of the Government, with one or two exceptions, were prepared to accept the dictates of their leaders rather than embarrass the Government and lose their party’s future support. During the session the Labour Party fought every measure that was in conflict with Labour principles, but 24 members in a House of 80 could achieve little in effective results. Until the workers of the country realised that Labour was making their fight and was entitled to their support, their position would become progressively worse and they could expect no better conditions from the present Government.