CABINET AND CAUCUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 9

CABINET AND CAUCUS

“VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES" At a meeting of the Rasp Club this week the president drew the attention of members to a motion reported to have been passed by the Labour Party Conference. According to press reports. “Mr James Roberts, president of the Party, sprung a surprise by moving that the Conference accord to the Prime Minister its hearty thanks for his report. that it express confidence in Mr .Savage as Prime Minister, and that, in the event of any future deadlock, the matter be referred for settlement by discussion between thim and the national executive of the Labour Party.” At the request of Mr J. A. Lee, a deadlock was defined by Mr Roberts as “a situation in which the Cabinet could not agree to carry out the decisions of the caucus.” This, said the president, is a motion that could have very serious consequences. When a Cabinet in a British country has been unwilling to carry out the wishes of caucus it has always rightly been the practice for the Government to resign and go to the country. “If caucus demands one line of acI tion, and the Government another, it ' j is the people’s right to say what course J should be followed. According to the 1 reported motion, however, the Prime ; Minister, in the event of a deadlock, is to pass over caucus and confer with the National Executive of the Labour ; Party. This was described as the democratic' way of doing things, but it , is obvious that it is just the reverse of that.” The president hoped that no such motion had ever been passed. but it , should be the duty of the Opposition to secure an assurance from the Government that in the event of a deadlock in the future, the customary democratic way out ihould be followed, otherwise a blow would be dealt at the very heart of our parliamentary system.

The following motion was then carried unanimously :—"That this club considers that in the event of any New Zealand Cabinet finding itself unable to carry out the wishes of caucus—that is. the wishes of the elected representatives of the people—the Government should resign and appeal to the electors in accordance with traditional practice in British democratic countries. We also consider that any move to deny the people their rights in such a matter should be vigorously opposed."