GOVERNMENT ASSAILED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21615, 6 October 1933, Page 11

GOVERNMENT ASSAILED

•'NO BIGHT TO BE HERE " j FORMER SUPPORTER S VIEWS ANOTHER VOTE WITH LABOUR [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday A very frank acknowledgment of his breach with the Government was made by Mr. I). McDougall (Mataura) in tho House of Representatives this afternoon, when he went to some pains to emphasise that he again proposed to vote for the Labour Party's no-con-fidence amendment. "We have heard a great deal about what tho Government has done," said Mr. McDougall, "and seeing that the Prime Minister has been good enough to take tho leg ropo oft' me. I can kick as much as I like. I do not mind a fight. The spirit is still willing, though the blows may be weak. I would like to know what the Government has done, anyway. They havo put the whole responsibility on to boards and committees." Tho Railways Board, ho said, could not manage tho railways, and the Transport Board, Highways Board, Unemployment Board, Moat Board and Dairy Board were 110 better. "Work Handed Over to Boards'" "The whole administration of this country has been handed over to boards, and the Cabinet has no responsibility at all," said Mr. McDougall. "Everything is handed over to outsiders, who cannot get a seat in this House. Tho Meat Board has taken over £38,000 from tho producers, and they have lost £7OOO on tho year. What good aro they? But there they are." The Wheat Board was the biggest humbug that had ever been created in New Zealand, continued Mr. McDougall. The Dominion could produce all the flour it required but the board would not give millers the wheat. Distributors, Limited, which was a twin sister to the board; was exploiting the public and had been doing so for the last 10 years. A proposal was now in hand for the establishment of a Wo<il Board, and there was some suggestion that the member for Wairarapa would bo put on it. He would make as big a muddle on the Wool Board as he did when he was Minister of Lands. "We have had all manners of advisers running the country," continued Mr. McDougall, "while Ministers go gallivanting about —some of them go gallivanting all over the world —and they hand their work over to boards and commissions. The Government has had a hard-journey and a hard row to hoe, but there is 110 need for them to make it worse than it is, and they have been doing that all along. If they have not the capacity to fix things up 110 one can blame them, but if they cannot do the job, why do not they get out and let someone else in? "Not Frightened of Election" "Why doesn't the Government say, 'The Labour Part}- say they can manage it, let's get out and go to the country.' " Mr. McDougall said he was not frightened of an election. He had been through them before, and he would not worry if he were put out. "The Government has 110 right to bo here," he added. "The only thing it can do is to go to the country and let the people say if it is doing right or wrong. Tho Wheat Purchase Board and Distributors, Limited, are exploiting the poor man. Bread should not bo moro than sevenpence a loaf, and flour not more than £9 a ton. "I am going to vote for this amendment," said Mr. McDougall in conclusion. "I have got the leg rope off and now I can kick with both legs if I like." Mr. McDougall later voted for the Labour amendment seeking a dissolution of Parliament. Messrs. A. J. Stallworthy (Eden) and H. Atmore (Nelson) did likewise, but their Independent colleagues, Messrs. -W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) and R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), voted with the Government. 1 COALITION CAUCUS MR. McDOUGALL EXCLUDED 'SEVERAL OTHER ABSENTEES [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday In view of the vote he cast against tho Government on the no-confidence amendment in the House of Representatives last evening Air. D. McDougall (Mataura) was not invited to to-day's caucus of the Coalition Party. Mr. McDougall has said he will be prepared to rejoin the party if the Government exempted the small wheat growers of Southland from the operations of the Wheat Purchase Board. Meanwhile, Sir. McDougall has not removed himself from a Government bench in the House. It is stated, however, that he will find it much easier to leave the fold than to re-enter it. Another absentee from the caucus was Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames). He supports the Government's high exchange policy, but he has not attended caucuses since his difference with the Government a year ago on the question of miners' widows' pensions. He was not invited to to-day's caucus. Messrs. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui), R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) and A. J. Stallworthy (Eden), who quarrelled with tho Government on the exchange issue, have been excluded from caucuses for some time and "were not invited to attend to-day. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), who has apparently been granted a special dispensation to opposo tho exchange policy and yet remain in the Coalition Party, was at the caucus.