CHALLENGE TO LABOUR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 491, 1 September 1922, Page 6

CHALLENGE TO LABOUR.

LOYALTY SUBJECT RAISED. In consequence of statements made by tho member for Kaiapoi (Mr D. J. Jones), yesteiday’s sitting of the House concluded with another dispute about loyalty. “1 am not going to accuse the Labour Party ol disloyalty,” said Mr Jones. “They call easily clear up the situation, and that is what they ought to do.” The member quoted from \\ ebslor’s Dictionary tho definition of loyally. “Are the Labour Party,” ho then asked, “prepared to state definitely that they believe in the Grown, and in the Constitution and in the Empire, and to announce that publicly throughout New Zealand, put it in the columns of the Maorilaiul N\ orker within tlie next throe months? lam not going to say that any party is disloyal, but from any party going out to win the confidence of the electors, the electors have a right to learn where they stand. Lnlcss the Labour Party are prepared to do something on the lines 1 have suggested, the Reform Party can do nothing but recognise that they are against the King and tlie Constitution.” „ . m Tho Leader of the Labour Party (Mr Holland) said that ho and his fellowmembers took the oath of allegiance when they took their seats in.the House. ‘ When tve have done that we have pronounced l x> tho people where wo stand, ho said. Mr Holland added that it was impertinent ;or any member to question the loyalty of .he Labour members after that Mr Speaker: The hon. gentleman said that ho did /iot refer to members of this House. . , ~ Mr Holland; Tho hon. gentleman referred directly to the Labour members on these benches—(A Reform member; io tho Labour Party) —and to the Labour Party. I say that the Standing Orders do not permit members to be attacked by a thinly-veiled reference to the party to which they belong.”