A DEFINITE STAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20630, 31 July 1930, Page 13

A DEFINITE STAND.

LABOUR PARTY'S POSITION. UNITED BEFORE REFORM. MR. COATES' MOTION OPPOSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Labour Party will vote against tho Budget amendment moved in the Houso yesterday by tlio Leader of the Opposition, tlio Eight Hon. J. G. Coates, in spito of tlio fact that tlio party is opposed to portions of the Budget proposals. The Labour attitudo was clearly defined by tlio Leader of the Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland, when speaking in the Financial debate to-day. " There are somo portions of the Budget wo aro strongly in favour of, and there aro some portions we are strongly opposed to," ho said. "When tho time comes we will voto for the items which wo favour and we will vote against tho portions to which wo arc opposed. " The Leader of the Opposition is really asking us to placo him back on tho Treasury benches," said Mr. Holland. " That is the essence of his amendment. From our viewpoint then, tho main principle involved is whether we should placo the Reform Party back in ofiice. As an inducement, tho Leader of tho Opposition lias publicly intimated that if he gets back one of his first acts will be to reduce wages on public works used as relief works. That i" itself would bo sufficient reason for us lu refuse to put buk tho Reform Party, even if there were no 1928 vote of tho electors on record and no long list of misdeeds to the debit of the Reform Party. When we vote, against the no-confidence amendment wo arc not voting confidcnco in the present Government." " Exchanging Bad lor Worse." The remark provoked loud laughter from the Reform benches.

" What we are doing is simply refusing to exchange bad for worse," continued Mr. Holland." "To put the United Tarty out in order to put the Reform Tarty in would bo like exchanging a returned cheque marked 'not sufficient funds lor a counterfeit bank note. 'Hint is the position as we see it." Continuing, Mr. Holland said Mr. Coates, in his speech on the previous evening, referred to (he Reform Party s new-found principle of the reclassification of land. Mr. Coates appeared not to know that year after year for more than ten years the Labour Tarty had endeavoured to secure reclassification. A Reform Voice: Why did you vole against it last year ? Mr. Holland: T have already explained that we were voting against accepting a counterfeit bank note. Mr. Holland said he recollected taking deputations on the subject to the lato Mr. Massey and to Sir Francis Bell when the latter was acting-Trimo Minister. Specific instances had been given of the price of land in comparison with its value. Apparently the Reform policy was to recognise the right of the spcculatoi, but Mr. Holland asked who had a better right to the land than the man who would live on the land and use it. Occupation and Use. Reform Voices: The nsehold ? Mr. Holland: The Labour Party stands for occupation and use, as it always has done. It is remarkable how members of the Reform Tarty seem not to know what tho actual position is with regard to the political situation. Speculators in land values had nothing to expect from the Labour Party. Does tho Leader of the Opposition expect any section of the House, even those sitting behind him, to accept his statement with respect to reclassification? After examining in detail various points in the Budget, Mr. Holland concluded with the statement:—"The Labour Party's position is very clear and very definite. We will vote to turn the Party out on the first opportunity. We will not give a vote that would bring to this country the disaster of another term of office on the part of the Reform Party." FACING THE POSITION. THE GOVERNMENT PREPARED. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL HF.rOKTER.] WELLIXGTON. Wednesday. Speaking on the position of the political parties, tho Minister of Railways, the lion. W. A. Veitch, said the Governinent was prepared to face the position confronting it. It, was for Parliament to decide whether the Government remained on the Treasury benches. Tho business of the Government was to carry on and it would do so in tho way it considered best. It had shown the remedy and pointed the way. Mr. Coates' second no-confidence amendment was a hostile move intended to impede the business of the Government. It, was most desirable that the Prime Minister should leave for the Imperial Conference in a few weeks and the Leader of tho Opposition spent his time in moving a futile amendment which he himself admitted would not lie passed.