VOTE FOF GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 10

VOTE FOF GOVERNMENT

WHERE MK. BELL STANDS. AN AMUSING INTERLUDE. POLITICAL '* FOOLERY." 7 '■:-.;! fig. MODERATE FUSION URGED. [bx temjgbaph.—special bepoetee.] . WELLINGTON. Tuesday. After days of dreary debate members awoke to laugh and laugh again at the unconventional statement of his political leanings given by Mr. Allen Bell (Bay of Islands) in the House of Representatives this evening. " Throughout the 18 months that I have bean a member of this House I have not been satisfied with the way in which things have been going on," declared Mr. Bell "A lot of blank cartridge has been fired from all sides. I have heard the Leader of the Opposition call upon the Prime Minister to resign. I have heard the Prime Minister say that he was prepared to go to the country, and the Leader of the Labour Party say the same thing, yet I have yet to find a member of this House who wishes tc see an election in spite of what-has been said." (This was greeted with loud laughter.) A Member. Are you speaking for yourself?

Mr. Beli: I am speaking for myself and the other members as well. (More laughter.) He said that considering the state of the country it was a pity that Reform and the Liberals could not come together and form a party which could hold together for the next 10 years. "The real Opposition in this House is the Labour Party," lie declared. " All moderate people tn House should realise it and then wo could get rid of all the foolery that w-s have had in the last 18 months. (Laughter.) I am not referring to my own remarks, but to what has been said by other members." His Election Pledge. Continuing, Mr. Bell referred to his own position in the House. " The Liberal leader is reported to have said that Reform is kept in power by three Liberals," he went on.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford): I never made such a statement in my life. Mr. Bell: Very well, I * : ccept the hou. gentleman's denial. When I stood for election I had no assistance from the Leader of the Reform Party, of the Liberal Party, or of the Labour -Party. I was elected as an Independent with one reservation, that in the case of a vote of no confidence, supported by extreme Labour, I would support the Government. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South): Where is your "independence then?

Mr. Bell: That was the pledge I made at my election, and I mean to„ keep it. He had no particular reason to be grateful to the Prime Minister, who had been responsible for keeping him out of Parliament for 14 years. One reason for this probably: had been th3,t his politics were considered too radical. Another appeared ' to have b&sn that Mr. Massey required the services of one of the greatest statesmen New Zealand had ever known—the present Minister for Internal Affairs. (Some laughter.) Interests of the Country. Mr. Bell then explained his own attitude to the Government. He said that on entering Parliament, he found it practically without a majority, and he had to decide whether it was in the best interests of the country to help keep it in office or to put it out. The interests of the country were paramount. After very careful consideration, he decided that his duty was to keep the present Government in power. "What would have happened if I had put the Liberal Party into office?" he asked. "It would have been ruled by the leader of the Labour Party. It would have danced to the music which he provided. C'No, No.') When I consider what the Prime Minister has done in the 10 years which have passed since the war broke out, whatever one's political opinion may be, one must admire the man for the way in which he has carried through, and as an independent member I must congratulate him., I hope the time is riot far distant when both the Government and the Liberal Party will realise that the time is ripe, and overrips (a Labour member: Rotten) for the formation of a party which will represent the moderate thought of the country. In saying this I am not disparaging my friends of the Labour Party.

Practically Hoi Difference. "So'far as the other parties are concerned, there is practically no difference between them. (A Liberal member: Oh, isn't there?) There is one broad highway over the political landscape, running north-east. My position upon it is in the middle of the road. (Laughter.) I know that expression is copyright, and that I have no real right to use it." He made a further appeal for union against Labour, and concluded: "I hope that for the re•mainder of the session we shall have no mora of the childieh bickering and the cheap jibes that have been thrownfrom one side of the House to the other."