A PARTY'S PROMISES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 13

A PARTY'S PROMISES.

RECORD OF GOVERNMENT,

REVIEW BY MINISTER. MR. RANSOM AT ST. HELIERS. Staling that there had been so much misrepresentation concerning ttio United Party during its first session that Cabinet had thought it should put the true facts of its stewardship before them, the Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, traversed many phases of tho session when speaking last evening to a fairly largo audience in the picture theatre, St Hcliers Bay, in support of Mr. W. A. Donald, the party's candidate in the Parnell by-olection. Mr. Ransom said they had been told from limo to time that the United Parly had failed to keep its promises. Mr. Coates himself had said: "A party is not to bo judged by its promises, but by its performances." The United Party was quite prepared to be bound by that. Tho first session of any Parliament was not usually a good working session, and they were looking forward to the second. It. was not that they were ashamed of the work of tho first session, but it was hoped to continue it further in tho second.

Referring to a statement by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, that "the Reform Party was there to prevent the passage | of legislation contrary to the interests of tho country," Mr. Ransom asked in what respect was the United Party's legislation unsatisfactory. If it were what particular enactment would tho Reform Party repeal, and, if any, with what would they replace it? "It is not tho policy of the United Parly to legislate for tho pleasure of the Labour Party or any other party, but to bring measures forward that are in the best interests of the country, and stand by them," he said. "If neither the Reform Party nor tho Labour Party is prepared to support a measure, then we will appeal to the country and will bo quite prepared to stand by its decision. "When the representatives of any party in the Dominion take the unemployment problem as tho basis of an outcry, then it is hard put for an argument," Mr. Ransom said. "The question is not a party one, but a national one However, more has been done during the past 18 months than ever before." Dealing with the United Party's railway policy, Mr. Ransom said it was carrying out the policy of stopping branch lines and of concentrating on the early completion of the main trunk lines. Faster work was being done in this direction than for many years. Under United Party also £25,C00 more had been made available for the provision of roads in outlying districts. He intended that during the next session the amount should be largely increased, so that the pioneer settlers might be given the roads to which they as pioneers were entitled. Mr. Donald also addressed the meeting and received a hearing equally attentive. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried with but few . dissentients. The chairman was Mr. G. Cole. AGREEMENT DENIED. LABOUR AND GOVERNMENT. STATEMENT BY MR. HOLLAND. A reply to certain statements made in the Parnell by-election campaign, alleging that the Government had entered into an agreement with the Labour Party in respect to the latter's motion to restore the " cut " in the salaries of Post and Telegraph employees,'was made last evening by the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., in a speech at the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane. Mr. Holland recalled the history of the amendment which was taken by the Government as a no confidence motion.. " When I first moved the amendment," he said, " Mr. T. M. Wilford, who was acting as leader of the House in the absence of Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. G. W. Forbes, said the Prime Minister was prepared to make a definite statement of policy when he was well enough to attend the House. I agreed to withdraw the amendment, but intimated that if the statement was not acceptable it would be brought forward again. * " The Prime Minister did not recover sufficiently to return to tho House, but eventually his statement appeared in the press. It was wholly unsatisfactory to my party, and I was asked to make representations to the Government on the matter. I did so, and failed to get any definite promise, although, in the light of past events, it was known that we would move in the House. " Our notice of motion was based on on agreement with representatives of tho Public Service. Wo did not decide upon our lino of action until between 1.50 and 2.30 p.m. on November 4 and when the House resumed I handed a copy of the notice of motion to Mr. Forbes. When I read it out he said he would take it as a motion of no-confidence.

" I can only say that charges of an agreement between tho Government and Labour are absolutely unfounded. Mr. Forbes has already made a statement denying that there was any collusion, and Mr. Forbes' statement was right."

UNITED CANDIDATE. ADDRESSES BY MR. DONALD. Mr. W. A. Donald. United candidate, addressed electors at tho Newmarket Hall prior to an address by tho Hon. W. A. Yeitch. In outlining briefly tho chief points in support of tho United Party, Mr. Donald said a careful examination of the Government's record since it took office 16 months ago had convinced him that it was well fitted to carry on in office, and to be given an opportunity of patting its policy into effect. Mr. Donald subsequently addressed a meeting at St. Heliers Bay. STATE OF THE PARTIES. REFORM THE STRONGEST. No party in the present Parliament has an absolute majority. After the general election the United Party had 28 members, the same number as the Reform Party. Since then Mr. T. M. Wilford has resigned his seat, which was won by Mr. W. Nash, who increased the Labour strength to 20. The resignation of Mr. H. R. Jenkins further dopleted tho United Party membership, so that the present state of parties is as follows: Reform .. a ,» 28 United .. e . 26 Labour .» . „ .. . 20 Country , 8 . v . 1 Independent v .• ..• *. 4 Total . 79 Tho members classed as Independents are Sir Charles Statham, who is Speaker, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, Mr. W. J. Poison, and Mr. J. T. Hogan. The last-named, however, attends United Party caucuses, and has not so far voted against the Government on policy questions. Mr. J. S. Fletcher and Mr. W. J. Broadfoot are included in the United Party strength, although they have both recently shown certain independent leanings,.