THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 10

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

. m LABOUR PARTY RESTIVE. MR HOLLAND’S REPLY TO MB' MASSEY. (Per United Press Association.) WESTPORT, January 19. This afternoon Mr H. E. Holland, M P , chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, telegraphed tno following reply to the Prime Minister :—“Thanks for reply. 1 regret, however, that your telegram givos no indication of the date on which tie 'Government will meet Parliament. I am confident the public will disapprove of a heavily-defeated Government neglecting to meet Parliament, promptly. I am also sure

the public will regard with tho same astonishment as myself the December 7 verdict interpreted to mean a victory tor the Government.” THE LIBERAL PARTY. BIG GATHERING IN STRATFORD, MR WILFORD’S REMARKS. (Pkb United Press Association.) STRATFORD, January 19. A great gathering in the Town Hall presented Mr Masters with a purse of sovereigns and Mrs Masters with a valuable necklace. Messrs Wnford, Atmoro, Veitch, and Smith were present, and all .eulogised 1110 member for Stratford’s work. Mr Milford, in the course of his speecn, referred to the resolution passed by tne Reform Caucus “welcoming any equitable arrangement,” and went on to ®sy ■ would like to know the meaning of the resolution. 1 ask Reform is that an invitation for the members of the Liberal-Labour Party to join the Reform Party and make one party, and place Mr Holland in ray place as leader of the Opposition, and thus make Mr Holland’s party the alternatno m this country?” He hoped he had put the question plainly, and would make no comment. When the Reform Party s answer to that question was submitted to the niambers of the Liberal-Labour Party ho could make a statement as to his party a intentions when Parliament opened. . MR HOLLAND’S PROTEST. EARLY MEETING OF PARLIAMENT DEMANDED., (Pkb United Pbess Association.) WESTPORT, January 19. During the course of an address before a business meeting of the Westport branch of tho New Zealand Labour Party, held in the Town Hall to-night, Mr H- E. Hoiland, M.P. (chairman of . the Parliamentary Labour Party), made some reference to the recent correspondence between Mr Massey and himself. The- ; Prime Minister s optimism' was a wonderful thing, ho said. He had gone to the country with a party consisting of 49 members, and came back with 36, this notwithstanding that Ips, party contested an increased . number of- seats. His aggregate vote represented a hopeless minority of the total votes polled, and he could oinly continue, to hold, office prpvidea he could capture a number of the so-called Independents . and Liberals. Mr Massey was now finding it possible -to tell the Labour Party it was, “hi error in . thmkmg the verdict of December 7 constituted an emphatic declaration of no ; confidence- in the Government.” This could only mean (hat Mr Massey interpreted the December 7 verdict to stand for a vote of confidence in the Government. The Prime Minister had recourse to language almost pettish when, he said: “On the contrary, it constituted a declaration that the people of New Zealand would on no account tolerate a Government which might be assisted to office by, or in any way placed under an obligation to. the Socialistic Labour Party

.This was quite in line with the curiously fearful resolutions carried at the first meeting of the Reform. Party, after its great defoat in December. At that meeting all the ancient ‘‘bogies - ’ were raised just ns they were ineffectively • raised by Mr Lloyd George in . England and Mr Hughes in Australia, and they were apparently raised to cover up the Government's extreme reluctance to meet Parliament for the present. It was true there was no real dividing, line between Mr Massey’s party and the Liberals and Independents. It was equally true that these sections must be driven together eventually by the relentlessness ot the economic and political developments, as well as by the identity of the class interests they represented, but the fact remained that the present Government was a defeated faction which could get nowhere and do nothing until it had made some sort .of bargain with the men .who had opposed its administration and defeated its candidates at the polls. That this defeated mmority should continue to hold office-, find govern by an Order-in-Gouncil was unthinkable. the opinions of constitutional lawyers to the contrary, and notwithstanding that every consideration of political decency demanded that the Government should meet the House promptly and learn -its late. There was another reason, and an exceedingly viral one, why the House should meet, and that was the forthcoming thud cut in tho public servants’ wages Many public servants, and particularly those with large families, were finding it quite impossible to provide for their families out ot the wages left after two cuts, and in view of the condemnation of the Government s policy by thfr electors ifc was almost ceitain that a new Parliament would ■ forbid any further attack on tho wages of tho service. “It would bo a scandal that not even the constitutional lawyers would essay to do-

fend if the present Government should proceed to give effect to the third cut’ before Parliament has- an opportunity, to . review its ' legislation.” Mr Holland declared. - Public opinion will be solidly in support of Labour's demand that the Government should meet the House promptly.” A largely-attended meeting of the v\ estport branch of the Labour Party endorsed the action of the New Zealand •Labour Party in demanding that Parliament should meet promptly. ", Sj. HAM AND-THE SPEAKERSHIP* STA-rMENT BY MB SULLIVAN. , ,Tbom Oce Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH; January 19.; Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., who has returned from a visit to Otago, told ft?'Star reporter that during his holiday he had garnered the impression that in-the. south tne Speakership in the House was liltelv to bo ottered to Mr C. E. Statham. • M.P.. and that Mr Statham would accept it provided there were .no conditions attached to his nomination. Mr Sullivan said he had met a number of Otago members cf Parliament in the course of his travels who 'regarded, it os very probable that .Mr Statham would be the next Speaker. 'Dunedin people thought very highly of Mr Statham,. and considered, him a very honest, straight-going politician. It was not likely lie would accept the Speakership if by doing so he would be required to sacrifice any of his political principles. HON. .7. A. HASAN’S VIEWS. GOVERNMENT IN THE MELTING POT. , The Hon. J. A. Hanaii, in the course of his speech responding to’the toast of Parliament at the public • banquet tended to Mr De La Pcrreuo, the newly-elected member for Awnma, said; The Government was now said to be in the -melting pot .and it would probably come out re-shaped or replaced to meet the wishes of the people and needs of the limes. Not only in New 1 Zealand but throughout the world the Government institutions were in the melting pot by reason of the economic and social conditions which had arisen out of the war. Elections had been fought in England, Australia, and Now Zealand and one of the deductions he had made regarding these elections was that the people were against a one-man Government and the autocracy of a one-man Government must go. 'lhat was democracy and -no democratic community would stand for such powers in the hands of a single Individual, 'the people ho-thought were also opposed To’ the Exe* I eutivo Council or Cabinet having such wide I powers and their usurpation of certain rights that should be exercised by members; The | people, it seemed, had also declared in favour of party solidarity, There was also a strong feeling in the country that the interests, not of party or class, but of the people as a whole should come first. The I good government and welfare of Now ZeaI land was of paramount concern. There was no. doubt that the Reform ship was ■badly battered at’the. last election and it would take the captain and his, officers all their time to render that craft entirely seaworthy. Patchwork would not suffice to keep her afloat. The opposing forces were much stronger in debating power and platfoim ability? Thera would be a very

troublesome sea in front of them and there would bo an interesting political situation when Parliament mot. The world-wide tendency was to bring the Government closer to, and more under the control of, the people. Ireland had recently gained a constitution more democratic in some respects that Now Zealand. New Zealand had tho first post the post system and that would have to go and whatever Government had power during the next three years would have to do something to better tho system, possibly by preferential voting. There was not a more critical time in the history of tho country than that before them. There were difficult financial and other problems to be solved. These questions in the interests of the country must be faced courageously and with constructive ability and in accordance, with the progressive spirit of the times. —(Loud applause.)