POLITICAL HISTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22675, 13 September 1935, Page 7

POLITICAL HISTORY

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY MR VEITCH CRITICISED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 12. The political history of Mr W. A. Veitch and the organisation of the Democrat Party for which Mr Veitch was recently elected deputy leader for the North Island, were referred - to by Mr A. Stuart during his in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. "Mr Veitch said the policy of the Government was directed by the large landowners," Mr Stuart said. "I would be pleased if he could inform the House who is dictating the policy and finding die funds of the Democrat Party. I know of a man who was told recently that The Democrats had more funds in hand and promised than any other political party in New Zealand, is it the importers who are supporting this new party? Mr Veitch is opposed to the high exchange, but the importers are a result of the exchange cannot add a huge profit on to their goods. . . "The building subsidy was also criticised by Mr Veitch, but the fact remains that it has given a great stimulus to building throughout the Dominion. Mr Veitch told us that unemployment was due to excessive taxation, and yet he said that more money should be borrowed. He did not tell us how we could borrow without increasing taxation. Another point made by Mr Veitch was that our standard of politics should be higher. He has -been in every possible political party during the past 24 years, and his new party may be no more successful than the others." Reference to Mr Veitch's career was also made by Mr H. G. R. Mason, who said he was puzzled to know why Mr Veitch should complain of the. sins of a Government which he had supported all alongi Mr Veitch had helped the Government to cut down the pensions of widows, returned soldiers, and the aged and needy, and to destroy the Arbitration Court. "In all those interminable divisions that were taken on these problems when the Labour Party challenged the Government at every stage the hon. gentleman gave his unvarying support to the policy of which he now complains," said Mr Mason. " Never did any disturbance of conscience come to him when he was assisting to do all those things. Now he is seeking the electors to rely upon him to institute a policy to put the Government out of office. Why? Why should he want to put out of office a Government that has done exactly what he wanted it to- do? It is very mysterious. Perhaps the hon. gentleman has discovered that there is great indignation throughout the country at the policy of the Government.