GOVERNMENT CAUCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 14

GOVERNMENT CAUCUS

MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED SOLIDARITY OF SUPPORT ACTING PRIME MINISTER PLEASED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 18. After a meeting extending over two days the caucus of Government members of the Legislature held in Parliament Buildings concluded to-night. The whole of the morning sitting was occupied with a discussion on the Government’s housing scheme. Other important aspects of the Government’s policy were discussed in the afternoon, including broadcasting, external and internal marketing, and unemployment. Complete satisfaction with the work of the caucus was expressed by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in an interview to-night. Referring to broadcasting, Mr Fraser said the caucus had passed a motion unanimously supporting the action taken by the Government as being exactly in line with the pre-election statements of the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) on the subject and also endorsing the action of the Acting Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (Mr F. Jones) in refusing to permit unregulated use of the air for controversial subjects. The party also approved of the Government’s assurance that matters of political, social and economic controversy, when discussed over the air, must be debated in a fair manner, such as that adopted in the case (if Parliamentary broadcasts, thus giving equal opportunities to be heard. Mr Fraser said that consideration had been given to the Government’s policy of external and internal marketing, and the caucus had expressed satisfaction with the results attained. Considerable time was also spent in reviewing the unemployment situation, and various proposals for providing further work were submitted by members of the caucus. During the morning the caucus discussed the Government housing scheme, and one of the most important features of the discussion was consideration of the possibility of a shortage of skilled labour in this connection. “ I am well satisfied with the caucus,” Mr Fraser said. “It has done a large amount of good work, and has shown a spirit of co-operation with and support for the Government that could not be excelled. Reports from various parts of the country on both the legislative and administrative work of the Government were very satisfactory, and the opinion of members of the caucus was that the Government was stronger and stood in higher estimation in the country than ever before. In fact, the attacks made upon the Government have been on such an unsubstantial, petty, and puerile basis that they have reacted to the benefit of the Government.”