LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18053, 29 September 1920, Page 6

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

A LABOURITES CHALLENGE.

IS Mil \VILFOJ> LEADER y

(FltOil OCR OWN C'OJRBESPOJiDENT.) WELLINGTON, Seplomuur 28. J. wish to raiso Uio question as to whether the member lor lluit is entitled to bo addressed as the Leader oi the Opposition, in view of tlio lact that he was only elected as party leader at a meetin.r Q f seven members," said Mr M'Combs (Lyitel\°,"\W ho , IIOUSB ot JiupWKentiitivcs to^lay . .. r, M^ om , bs w Wh 'P olUle kalbour Party •ihe Speaker m tho Houso ot Commons has recently ruled," added Air M'Combs, " that fie largest party sitting in Opposition to tho Government, is entitled to be considered tho otlioal Opposition; furthermore, the olliciol Liberal K roup in this House U m such complete agreement with the Government on ail lmportant questions." At this stage tho Speaker stopped Mr MC,ombs. The mombet, ho said, was not entitled to go into that question on the point oi order. * -Mr M'Combs: 1 W vs going to give mv reasons lor believing Zt the Liberal wrongly occupy the Opposition seats. ctoto°fKS akCr: ' iJle jl °"- ,nemb ' W Wi 01,i >- JJr Thaoker (Uhristchurcli East): Ho is not stating facts now; lie js stating what is unTho Speaker: Order. If the lion, gentleman makes his statement concisely it will save further trouble. Mr M'Combs: My point is that the oflicial i.ibeiul group is not capable of functioning as an Opposition. Its existence on the Opposition hWiches 1S therefore irregular anomalous ..ot merely • are they low n iiumbers, but they are in agreement with the Government on aU importiit questions. order J f \° r V to e P° in * of ordoi, as the lion, gentleman is a member of a Party that lias only half the number of members ot the Libra! Party, of which I an of orde?v r ' ,S h ° ° ntitlod t0 raiso this P«»t to' 1 r n i i-? ,C ' ak "; A c " y 1 ? 0n ' is entitled MiT 1 V° m K° f °'^ er "jtis a ber for ir a T? b f ea ot ™«i'that the member for Hutfc l Kls been properly elected Leader of the Opposition. y U.i I ' Co , mbs: T- By sev " en members. I shall ke t r , : Lnbl J o ""> contrary *K opp°o;-t[oi &Kvntod s-*-" '* Mr M'Uombs: 1 must press fche point that elected at a meeting of seven members. w l y ho Speaker: I must have it in an official _ Mr Wilford: The statement made" bv the k " ith °"£ ? The name of tho Leader of the Liberal Party was , ol,t 1 a tini } ? akor : I must accept my informa tran aS ng .S! Mreot lmtil I W todfe conT?,; w™ L g ° ° n as at *•» P««ent time ness. theD P roceed «l to other bu^