POLITICAL CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 225, 24 August 1931, Page 7

POLITICAL CONFERENCE.

PROBABLE OUTCOME. OPINION IN THE LOBBIES. WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. Although it was at first thought that the step being taken by the Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, would ultimately lead to the formation of a National Government, that opinion is not now generally held in the lobbies. Labour’s fears that the move would result in a postponement of the elections also appear to be unfounded, as it is believed that members of the Reform Party are not anxious to postpone an appeal to the electorate There is the possibility, however, that the financial position of the Dominion, as presented to the committee, will be ,so serious that the Reform and

S' United parties may be forced to present a solid front in order to put a ■t programme of economies through. Although the Labour Party readliy | agreed to the setting up of a commit- % tee, it is stated that members are not

; at all optimistic about the results, and it is stated that it would not be sur‘i® prising if there was a definite cleavage of opinion in the committee before the negotiations have proceeded very ii'ffly far. One Labour member expressed 1 the view that Mr Coates had put forH| ward his proposal owing to the hopej§jf lessness of securing unanimity in his party on the Budget proposals of the m£ Prime Minister. It was known that

I there were certain members of the Reform Party who were prepared to vote against the Government on the taxation proposals, and that would have resulted in Mr Coates being placed in an embarrassing position, in view of his oft-repeated utterances that his attitude was one of helping J-ather than hindering the Government. There is also a feeling in Labour circles that Mr Coates has “stolen the thunder” of the Labour Party. When the Finance Bill was before the House during the short session earlier in the year, Mr J. McCombs, the member for Lyttelton, moved.the following motion: This House recommends to the Gov'ernment that the members of Parliament be assembled at a round-table to formulate proposes by fffVmeans of resolutions;' when agreed iplf ppon, the proposals to be subsequently V.;; 1 embodied in a Bill; the resolutions to Mp be —(1) a taxation proposal based on ffim equality of sacrifice and ability to pay; (2) ways and means to render inlineja diaifc assistance to farmers; and ultiXjfi: mately to relieve the farmers of the risks of foreign trade. {pi It is held that this fnotion embodies ffS practically the same proposal as that Mf contained in Mr Coates’s motion. p| WIDE SCOPE FOR COMMITTEE. || Interviewed to-day, the Prime MinIffei ister said that the committee would I m not be able to make much headway by S®- confining its work to a consideration |||' of State finance. The question of the fm moment concerned local body finance, ® and also the position in which the |Mj; people generally were placed as a re:Sm suit of the depression. There was no doubt that experts would have to be Wm called in, and as the state of the na;ff| tional finances was dei>endent upon p«g that of the purse of the country at ifll large, the committee would have to m look further afield than the Treasury ill itself. . , .. Wmi It was also important to. realise TO that the scope of Governmental wffjal economy was limited, for the annual »: appropriations by Parliament \\ ere but SBj| a comparatively small part of the requirements, fixed, charges constituting ■I the main liability. It was perhaps unfortunate that tho life of the pie|g?? sent Parliament had almost expired, B and that not much time remained to out any effective work. This led to the question of proiongWm jng the life of Parliament, and it appeared quite plain that unless this were done the committee s work would ■lbe robbed of its value, The mam Wm essential at the moment was the torII! mat ion of a National Government in 4k!iljerder to bring about political stability IHUnd allow of the completion ot any j|jjj|||plan that might be decided on. |j||t WILL THE HOUSE ADJOURN? |||| RUMOUR BREAK- , . WELLINGTON. Aug. 24. The first meeting of the PpliHcal ■ parties’ committee will bo held to-day, »Ud exceptional interest attaches to ts Wi deliberations. especially in ' lew of W o fact that it lias yet to be decided w hat Hthe House will do in the meantime. There is still a suggestion that tliei e ® should be a short adjournment as a matWji’f.tei- of convenience, and Mi Pol bes said 'Mon Saturday that the woik 0 MHousc would t’apend on the attitude adopted at to-day s meeting. , i m hardly possible that the House cou d «[ do much good with three o « tug men in the various parties out of ® the chamber, so that Mr Ho n 1 % »be pressed to agree to an ad] • g m Although the Labour 1 arty Has W ngreed to take part m the comnnttee s IhF work, members on the closs + , W openly declare that as far as - |f eee they will not be able to .continue f |tho arrangement for very Jong, f of the most prominent members ot the t’ party mentioned on Saturday Hi ; ; foresaw an early break-away >y Labour members. This will natrna y complicate matters considerably and lead to a somewhat critical ; state affairs in view of Mr Coates s .statement in the House on Friday that two courses onlv were open to nia party a tho forcing of a general election and P 1 tho amicable settlement of party < ences during the present time ot erne gency.