SECRET WELL KEPT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17607, 24 October 1931, Page 5

SECRET WELL KEPT

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE CAUSTIC LABOR COMMENT ESTIMATES SIDETRACKED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Discussion of tho estimates by the House, of Representatives yesterday was constantly sidetracked by other considerations, the topic of the general elections being the most favored, for it seemed uppermost in members’ minds. The Labor Opposition considered that it had caught Air. 0. E. Macmillan (Ref., Tauranga) in a significant slip when that member, during a protest against what he considered a timewasting debate which was not getting a single item of expenditure approved, added: “Get on with it and give us poor unfortunate members some chance to fight the election.” “Oh! Oh!” chorused the Opposition, which laughed heartily when Mr. 'Macmillan gallantly recovered himself by declaring that it did not matter whether the election came within six months or 12. All morning aiyl most of the afternoon the only motion before the House was that of the Leader of the Opposition that progress be reported in order that the Government could provide a schedule of the proposed reductions in tho estimates. This was lost by 42 votes to 25, and the Loader of the Opposition then directly raised the election issue. LABOR WELL ARMED “Can the Prime Minister tell us,” lie pleaded, “whether he has anything in his mind at all regarding the elections? If the Prime Minister will say that in a week’s time, or to-morro.v, or Tuesday he can make a statement that in itself would bo satisfactory, but the position as it is must be unsatisfactory to everybody.”- He was unable to make any definite appointments. He had been asked to address a disarmament meeting, but he could make no engagement whatever.

Tho Hon. W. Dowuic Stewart: Do you want to arm? (Laughter). Air. Holland: We are well armed against this present Government, but tho position is that nobody can make any engagements at all. We do not know whether there will be an early election or not., and the whole position is thoroughly unsatisfactory. The Government owes it to tho House and the country to let us know-what is going to happen, and if the Prime Minister is not in a position to do it to-day he should tell us definitely when he will make a statement. 1 take it that as a matter of courtesy he will give it through this House to the country. The Prime Minister: I have never made any statement to the House either on a postponement or anything else of that sort. I do not know whether any statement is required in regard to it. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier): Everybody is asking for it. The Prime Alinister: If the question of postponement was brought up a statement would be made, but in the ordinary course of events members will assume,.that the .ordinary thing will go 0H,,,,,, Mr..,-Holland: The Prime Alinister .ljimseif laid it down that there must lie i la. "post pon cm cut. ( “ '“"''EVASIVE REPLIES

Tho fßfifiie Minister: I cannot lay that down. There would be only a postponement if members agreed to it. 1 am not so foolish as to make a statement that, things must occur, because I would know that I would soon be tripped up. Mr. Holland: Wo ean take it tint the election will take place now? The Prime Minister: You ean take it that the election will come on unless a statement is made that there will bo a postponement. (Laughter and Opposition protests). “I wonder when we will get something in the nature of definiteness from the Prime Minister?” said Mr. M. .J. Savage (Labor, Auckland West). The Prime Minister raised the postponement issue before the inter-party committee, and almost wept tears about what was going to happen to him and his party; yet to-day he mounts the mighty hor.se and claims that members are responsible for the suggestion. Here is the Prime Minister hanging on to office by the goodwill of his lifelong opponents, and he will not toll the country what it can expect regarding the elections. I cannot find words to express my indignation at the levity and joke of the tiling.”