UNITED PARTY UNREST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 12

UNITED PARTY UNREST.

CRITICISM IN RANKS.

THE TRIALS OF MINISTERS.

PROSPECTS OF AN ELECTION.

[liy TELEGRAPH.—-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

DUNEDIN. Sunday

Tho fact that members of the Houso of Representatives were becoming restive at the slow rato at which tho business of Parliament was being transacted was commented on by Mr. F. Waito, M.P., in an interview in Duncdin yesterday after his arrival from Wellington. In answer to a question whether there was any sign of revolt among tho members of the United Party, ho said he was not sure whether it could bo callod revolt, but those United Party members who had promised a speedy disappearance of unemployment, with cheaper bread and money at a rato lower than that at which it could bo borrowed, were naturally annoyed and very critical. However, tho Ministers seemed to bo in a worso plight than private members, ho added. They never knew when thoir decisions or utterances wero going to be rescinded or contradicted by tho Prnno Minister, who apparently was tho only ono allowed to mako decisions.

Asked if there were anything in the suggestion that the Minister of Public Works was not in agreement with tho Minister of Transport in regard to tho now Transport Bill, Mr. Waito said: "All Wellington knows that tho new Minister of Transport wants to tako over tho main highways administration and finally to get political control of the large sum of money collected as a result of the petrol tax, and it is equally well known that tho Minister of Public Works disagrees. It is quito on the cards that thero may bo a split in tho Cabinet over this matter unless one side or the other swallows something very unpalatable. The new Transport Bill will bo worth watching." On tho question of tho possibility of another election in the near future, Mr. Waite said it was obvious that all the Prime Minister wanted was to get his taxation proposals through, collect a lot of revenue, splash the monoy about and thon have an appeal to the country. The United Party organisers, concluded Mr. Waite, wero hard at work in all parts of the country and party money was available in plenty to,pay organisers. All this was evidence of a belief that an election may come at any time in the noxt 12 months.