PARTY ALLEGIANCE

Northern Advocate, 16 October 1931, Page 9

PARTY ALLEGIANCE

RUMOURS OF BREAKAWAYS

PLAIN HINT AT CAUCUS. TOWN VERSUS COUNTRY. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Every day brings fresh rumours regarding possible cha-nges in the party allegiance of members. When carefully investigated, these reports lead only to the discovery -that early developments ■ are unlikely, but that there is a feeling of unrest among sections both of the United and Reform ]>arties over the Coalition Government’s policy. This came into the open during the early morning committee discussion on the taxing bills, when members from both parties showed that they were not altogether satisfied with the incidence of emergency taxation.

Put plainly, they believe that the Government, in its natural anxiety to encourage producers to remain on the land, has so completely removed taxation from them that the city community is being asked to carry an unfair load. Normally the Coalition Government should command a majority of 38 in the House, but there was a small attendance when a important division was taken about 4 a.m. on tho graduated tax elimination issue.

The Labour Opposition moved an amendment to retain the tax, and found support from Messrs Dickie, Harris, 11. Holland and Wright (Reform Party), and the following United members: Messrs Atmore, .lull, Lye, McDonald and Munus. The Government’s majority came down to seven, and might have been even more slender but for the well-known practice of members preferring to absent themselves rather than embarrass their party. It is reported that this division was a subject of discussion at yesterday’s Reform caucus when the party’s leader was plainly told that the Coalition Government was in danger of alienating city support through undue partiality for country interests. Meanwhile Independent members look on hopefully and expect additions to their forces if the town versus country question is further accentuated by the Government’s policv.