LABOUR CRITICISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 10

LABOUR CRITICISM.

COST OF PARLIAMENT. "SHOCKING WASTE OF MONEY." [riv TEi.EGiurn. —press association.] WESTrOET. Saturday. • The Lender of (he Opposition, Mr. IP E. Holland, who arrived at "Westport from Wellington last evening, said that as far tho session had gone, it had involved a shocking waste, of public money, as the Government called Parliament together without having agreed upon the policy with which it would meet the House. It was quiio clear that there were serious divisions within the ranks of Cabinet and the Coalition generally upon policy matters, said Mr. Holland. More than a month ago Parliament was called together with a somewhat bellicose intimation from the Prime Minister to the effect that legislation was to be forced through with promptitude and that no delay of proceedings would be tolerated. On the fifth day of the session the closure was introduced and, with few exceptions, was interpreted by the press as an earnest of the Government's intentions. It transpired, however, apart from tho Arbitration Bill, which apparently was drafted by the Employers' Federation, that the Government had no legislation ready. Now, after the House had been in session for a month with only one bill, Mortgagors' Belief, passed through the final stages, a somewhat lengthy adjournment was found 'necessary to enable the Go%-ernment to prepare the policy which it should have had ready before Parliament was convened. It was more than probable, Mr. Holland said, that the Arbitration Bill would be passed by the Legislative Council, and if this should be so, and if the disastrous recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission should be adopted, the most dangerous hour in the history of New, Zealand would have struck and all the conditions making for industrial upheavals and insurrectionary developments would have 'been created by the ForbesCoat es coalition. The avoidance of tho creation of such an atmosphere, Mr. Holland added, should be tho concern of every sane element in tho community, and in this connection the most hopeful sign was the multitude of petitions which had poured in from many hundreds of business men protesting against any further wage reductions.