NO SHAM BATTLE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1929, Page 7

NO SHAM BATTLE

GOVERNMENT MEANS BUSINESS

Vigorously denying the assertion made by some Labour members that tlie Government and official Opposition were carrying on a sham fight, Mr G. C. Munns (Roskill) stated in the House of Representatives on Friday week that the two parties were diametrically opposed. Air Howard: Pure sham !

Mr Munns asserted that the policy of the Government would result in placing people on the land, which was more than could be said of the Opposition.

A Rdform Member: Under the land

Mr Munns said that whereas the Reform Government had starved ■ the State Advances Office for years, the first thing the United Government had done was to place that office on a sound foundation. There had been no suggestion of a political sham fight when the Government stopped the Palmerston North deviation work, and called a linlt at Ta.upo. All should get down to the fact that there were three distinct parties in the House. He told members candidly that if it came to a choice, he would vote for Labour'rather than with Reform, if Reform had the same old policy.

Mr Coates (laughing): Line up with them!

It was recalled by Mr Munns that when the Reform party was clamouring for the Treasury benches years ago the cry had been “Let us see the pigeon holes.” They got in, but they found nothing in the pigoon holes. On the other hand, the United Government had discovered a number of things They found, for instance, the Kirikopuni loop.

A NOISY HOUSE. At this stage there was so much interjection from the Reform benches that Mr Speaker intervened. “I am sorry to interrupt honourable members at this early stage,” he said, “but there is far too much persistent iritei iection. Perhaps honourable members will allow the member who is trying to speak to make his. speech without interruption.” .

Mr Munns said the Government had also discovered a certain lettei,and they had found a road which cost £10,030 to complete. Another discovery was a certain land deal. Referring again to the sham 'fight, Mr Mumms i sa.u that the .Reform and Labour Parties had been in line in their eh-, deavours to harass fhe Government by criticism, and in doing it they had supplied any amount of destructive criticism. Both parties had made a stalking horse of the £70,000,000. “We made a stalking horse of the £70.000,000 before the election,” continued Mr Munns, whereat there -were «loud- “ Hear hears” from the Opposition.

FAITH IN THE GOVERNMENT. “ Yes, I grant you that,” said Mr Munns. (Loud laughter.) “ Buj; when we did that we honestly hoped and believed that we would be able to do what we set out to do. To hear some of our political opponents talk anyone would think we had been in office for years. We proposed to borrow £70,000,000 spread over a period of from eight to ten' years yet we have been , in office only a short eight months.”

iVir Coates: Too long! (Laughter). Mr Munns: Too long for home honourable members on that side. I claim that during that short period we have carried out our obligations to the best of our ability. I admit that we have not lent money at 4J per cent, but 1 have still sufficient faith that it can and will be done. The money that has been raised by the Governmnt has been used ifor building up the State Advances and for carrying out urgent works, if we are not able to carry our. cur promises in their entirety, I ask, has there ever been a Government tliac was able to carry out its pledges to the I nil. If members believe that we are out to do what is fair and just they should give us a trial, and they can then condemn us after we have had a period in office in the event of our failure. That can be done if members care to leave us here. And now I am' going to forget the £70,000,000 for a minute and rdfer- to one or two other items. Reform laughter and “Hear hears” Mr Munns said the Government had promised to short lines of railway and they dicTOfc. “You didn’t have a mandate for that did you?” queried Mr Parry. Mr Munns: We said we stood for breaking up large estates,,, and if we didn’t get a mandate from the country for that, we shall get it from this House. We said we stood for closer settlement and assitance to the fanners in need of finance. Then there is the question of taxation, which has been made the bone of contention by the Reform party, which dosen’t care for the welfare of the community as a whole. Mr Munns said that if the H ouse did not agree with the policy of breaking up large estates then the United Party would take its tale to the country with every hope of success.