"DUTY TO RESIGN"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 8

"DUTY TO RESIGN"

MEMBER FOR THAMES CHALLENGE, BY MR. FORBES MINERS' WIDOWS' PENSIONS ABSENCE FROM CAUCUS

MR. STALLWOItTIIY'S CASE

[B7 TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL RErORTETI] ■WELLINGTON", Saturday

A challenge to Mr. A. M. Samuel to resign tho Thames seat and recontest it as other than a Coalition candidate was issued by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day, when interviewed regarding the significance of the absence of Messrs. Samuel and A. J. Stallworthy (Eden) from yesterday's caucus of the Coalition Party.

Mr. Forbes said that neither member had intimated to him the reason for his absence, although when a member was unable to attend it was usual for an explanation to be tendered. However, he presumed that Mr. Samuel's absence was a sequel to the dissatisfaction expressed by him in the House on Thursday regarding the pensions of miners' widows.

The Prime Minister said ho did not know why Mr. Stallworthy had not attended. However, in his comment on the signs of dissension thus evidenced, the Prime Minister confined his reference and his challenge entirely to Mr. Samuel. In an urgent question to the Prime Minister in the House on the opening day of the session, Mr. Samuel asked whether the Government would immediately pass legislation to" restore the pensions of miners' widows as promised by the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Coates, when the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was before Parliament last session. Mr. Samuel said widows had been notified that their pensions would cease at the end of the month, which marked the expiration of the six months' grace, in spite of the promise made on behalf of the Government. "An Absolute Bstrayal"

In replying that each case would be considered on its merits, Mr. Forbes denied that Mr. Coates had given any such definite promise, as suggested by Mr. Samuel, who thereupon retorted, "An absolute betrayal." Since that incident occurred Mr. Samuel has freely expressed the opinion that the question he raised was one which might wreck the Government. He had explained that as the alleged promise was given in committee and was thus not recorded in Hansard, he had stated the terms of the repudiated undertaking in his third reading speech for the purpose of having them officially reported. Mr. Samuel has pointed out that his action in that respect was not challenged. No Disciplinary Action

In commenting on the position to-dayf Mr. Forbes said Mr. Samuel had not attached much weight to the alleged promise, as he voted against tho Government on that issue. It was absurd to suggest that such an undertaking had been given and the fact that Mr. Samuel's third reading remarks had not been challenged was of no significance. Tho third reading debate took place after an exceptionally strenuous sitting, and it was possible the Minister who was alleged to have made the promise was not then present to question Mr. Samuel's version.

Mr. Forbes said no disciplinary action had been taken in connection with the absence of Messrs. Samuel and Stallworthy from the caucus, although he confessed he would be interested in hearing an explanation from the members concerned. Mr. Forbes expressed the emphatic opinion that it was Mr. Samuel's duty to resign his seat, which he had won on the understanding that he was a supporter of the Coalition Government. Doing Unpleasant Things It had been necessary for the Government to do some unpleasant things, but members of the party understood what the nature of the Government's task would be when they were on the hustings. A member who contested a seat endorsing the urgent need for financial readjustments and then voted against his Government when .details in that scheme were before the House was no longer entitled to regard himself as a supporter of the Coalition. If a dozen members acted in that way it was possible the LabourParty would be placed on the Treasury benches. The, Thames Seat Regarding the Thames seat, Mr. Forbes said some difficulty had been encountered in securing the withdrawal of Mr. William Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, an Independant candidate, from the contest last December. However, in view of the fact that Mr. Samuel, the sitting member, had accepted endorsement as a Coalition candidate, Mr. Marshall was persuaded to withdraw in the national interest. There was no doubt Mr. Samuel had secured many votes on tho distinct understanding that ho favoured the Coalition policv. Since Mr. Samuel had voted against tho Government on several important policy questions, Mr. Forbes felt the member for Thames should resign and recontest the scat, in order to give the electors an opportunity of expressing their views on his action.

Regarding the pension question, which had accentuated the rift between the member and his party, Mr. Forbes said it was intended to investigate each case., with a view to seeing that no unnecessary hardship was imposed. He was not certain whether amending legislation would be necessary. " NOTHING TO SAY » MR. ST ALL WORTH Y' S ATTITUDE "I have nothing to say about it," said 'Mr. A. J. Stall worthy, M.P. for Eden, who returned to Auckland at the weekend, when the Prime Minister's reference to his absence from caucus was brought under his notice. "I do;iot think anything would bo gained by discussing such a matter," he added. "There is too nuich serious work to be done at tho present time."-