DUNEDIN WEST SEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 11

DUNEDIN WEST SEAT

A PARTY BATTLE-GROUND MR STEWART’S GENTLE RAILLERY. WELLINGTON, August 6. The complete failure of the recent negotiations between the Reform and United parties to arrange a compromise between the respective candidates in cer tain electorates, and Dunedin West in particular, was humorously referred to by Mr W. Downie Stewart in the House of Representatives this evening during his Budget speech. “ The Leader of the Labour Party complains that the speech of the Leader of the Opposition last evening was too mild and friendly to the Government,” Mr Stewart said in opening his speech, “but I prefer to judge it by its results, and the first result I have seen is that, in this evening's paper, 1 find that the United Party has put up a candidate against me in Dunedin West. I might say with the Apostle Paul that “ 1 am debtor both to the Greek and the Barbarian,” and the only thing I can hope to do now is induce another United Party candidate, a Labour man, perhaps a Country Party candidate, and an Independent to come out against me as well.” This good-natured sally at the Government provided a humorous introduction to a well-reasoned speech upon the financial affairs of the Dominion.