LABOUR AND BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18843, 18 October 1924, Page 12

LABOUR AND BRITAIN.

INTERFERENCE IN ELECTION j > , * ' . WRONG IMPRESSION CREATED. MR- MASSEY'S REPUDIATION. [BI TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER. ]" ■'* WELLINGTON. Friday. There was • a hot : cross-fire of party comment in the House of Representatives this afternoon while the Prime Minister, was expressing his opinion, of the action of the New Zealas&l Labour Party In cabling to the British labour Government- regarding the attitude of the Dominion toward the Singapore base, the treaty with Russia and Imperial . preference. The cablegram had, saia the Prime Minister, conveyed an entirely wrong impression of .the < feeling of the people of the Dominion, on those subjects of interest to the Empire. The matter was raised by Mr. W, 8. Glenn (Bangitikei), who asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been ! drawn to the cablegram forwarded by the New Zealand Labour Party to the , British Labour Government containing references to the ' attitude of New Zealand - toward the Singapore baso, the treaty with Russia and Imperial preference? "Will the Prime Minister," asked Mr. Glenn, " record the genuine opinion of the vast majority of the people of New Zealand on these substantial subjects and contradict the false impression created!" The Speaker: Order, order. A storm broke in the Labour benches. Interjections flew to and fro across the Chamber so rapidly that it was quite impossible to disentangle them. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, rose to a point of order. Was the member in order in using the worda " false impression," he asked. The Speaker; The member is not In order. Mr. Glenn: I will say " wrong impression." The Prime Minister: I do not want to interfere with British politics any more than can possibly be avoided, especially while a general election is on. I think I am. justified ,in saying that the stateI ment contained in the cablegram contains an utterly wrong impression. That is putting it mildly. I am very strongly of i the opinion that a large majority of the people of the country , are opposed to the policy of tho British Government in regard to Singapore. ' ~ _ The Leader of the Opposition, Mr; T. M. Wilford: And the workers also. i Mr. • Massey: I am pleased to hear that. . Labour. Members: Take a referendum. Mr. Holland (to the Prime Minister): You're quite wrong. - ■ ' "I am riot going to be led away by interjections," continued the Prime Minister. " These are sido issues. The vast majority of the people, including Parliament, are opposed to the policy of the British Government iia regard to Singapore. . - . ■ . ■. ....... > The Leader of -the Opposition: I entirely agree with you. Mr. Holland You're quite wrong. i Mr. : Massey: Again, in regard to - the Russian Treaty I am just as strongly of the opinion that the people of New Zealand are _ more opposed to the British Government's 5 attitude • on the treaty than on the Singapore base. The Leader of the Labour Party: Will yon submit it to a vote of the people ? The Prime Minister: I will submit it to a vote of the representatives s of the people in Parliament. (Labour laughter.) There may be a doubt in the minds of some people, but there is none in my mind with regard to the attitude of the people of New Zealand. The great majority of them-^-although not so great a majority as in the other two cases—believe that every effort should be made to bring the countries of the Empire together more closely by a system of Imperial preference. Mr. Holland: Do you think it is a pr oper thing to use this House for propaganda?.. ..V., _ ... Mr. Massey: I am not using the House for propaganda. The subject was then allowed to drop. THE EDUCATION BILL. MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. OVERCROWDING OF SCHOOLS. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL REPORTER, ] WELLINGTON. Friday. In moving the second reading of the Education . Amendment Bill, the. Minister in charge, the Hon. C., J. Parr, said that the bill had received a careful and exhaustive scrutiny at the hands of the Education Committee. It had been overhauled and two or three important amendments had been made. '* The clause relating to the overcrowding of schools was an urgent one, and would allow for the reduction of the attendance if necessary. A debate ensued, carried on by a few members in a House which appeared tired after a full week. , . '

•' The bill passed its second reading just before midnight, when the Committee stage was taken.