HIGH EXCHANGE PLAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17945, 24 November 1932, Page 6

HIGH EXCHANGE PLAN

OPPONENTS ORGANISE SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT MINISTERS TO BE APPROACHED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The. move which has been started bj prominent city Coalitionists to organise unbending opposition to political interference with the exchange rate lias taken definite shape, and arrangements are being made to have a well-signed memorial presented to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart on bis return to Wellington this alternooii. It is also hoped that the movement will have gained sufficient support to enable representations to be made to the iTime. Minister and bis colleagues tomorrow. Those associated with the anti-high exchange agitation are confident that they-will be aide to present in the •House a front strong enough to convince the Government that if the issue were brought to a head in the Chamber the fate ot the administration would be imperilled. “We are determined to stand four square ill our opposition to any artificial raising of exchange,” said one of the city Coalitionists last night. “We are counting heads, and we are quite satisfied with the result. Some have stated that they will go to any lengths to prevent interference.” The -prominent oppositionists state that with the assistance of the thres. Independents, Aiessrs. G. A. H. M. Rushworth, and 11. Atmore, they have in sight at the moment 12 members who are prepared to resist political action to raise the exchange rate. It is pointed out that not all are necessarily low exchange advocates, si lice one or (wo subscribe to the view that a free exchange policy is desirable. Nine other members whose names have lioeii mentioned in association with those of the three independents are Aiessrs. R. A. Wright, A. Harris, W. A. Bodkin, J. A. Alacplierson, A. J. Stallworthy, H. Holland. W. A. Veitch, H. G. Dickie, and I". AlcSkimming. FREE VOTE IN HOUSE NO WHIPS ON MEMBERS! A suggestion that any vote taken in the • House of Representatives on questions affecting the exchange and banking policies ol the country should be free-of any party influence was made at last night’s meeting of the Stable Aloneflf League, when Mr. H. Aliller moved that the Prime Minister he written to, asking that no compulsion be placed on members in respect of such questions. “There are many men in Parliament to-day whose views may not be the same as those of the party leaders, but who may he forced to vote for what the leaders require.” stated Mr. Miller, who pointed out that when a member was faced with a charge of abandoning his leaders he was placed in a very difficult position. The position of the country to-day demanded that men use their brains, and not merely follow blindly where they were led. If monetary schemes placed before the House were made free of party influence, there would he a much greater chance of achieving some progress. .^r The motion was seconded by Air. GTv

1 . Lockett, who, however, conGdr-"' that the mover might add to it with good effect. After a' short discussion, it ivas agreed that the motion should lie forwarded in its original form, without anything to indicate a leaning on the part n f the Stable Money League to any particular monetary policy.