ELECTION CALLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19757, 11 October 1938, Page 5

ELECTION CALLS

COUNTRY QUOTA QUERIES TO MR. NASH YES OR NO DEMANDED DIRECT REPLY NOT GIVEN OFFER OF ASSURANCE (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., this day. A request for a plain yes or no as an answer to the question: “Will the country quota be disturbed if the Labour Party is returned to power?” was made to the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, at Rongotea. “There is quite a good case to be made that, with some of the electorates in fairly large areas, the representatives have trouble in getting round them,” said Mr. Nash. “The Labour Party will not let anything be done that will stop full representation of the country electorates.” The question asked was whether Mr. Nash could give an assurance that if the Labour Party were returned there would be an election three years hence and also would he give an assurance that the country quota would not be disturbed. The questioner asked the. Minister to be quite definite and clear in his replv. The Minister: We will not extend our life beyond the period for which we are elected. A voice: You won’t get the chance. The Minister: We will let the people do that. We will stay in Parliament for three years. Being Freely Asked "With regard to the country quota, that is a question being freely asked by supporters of the National Party,” continued Mr. Nash. “There is quite a good case that can be made out with some of the electorates in fairly large areas as the representatives have trouble in getting round them. “That can be made out with this form of representation in these areas anyway.” Speaking to the questioner the Minister asked: “What is the country quota?” The questioner: I do not know the exact figure at which it stands now, but we are quite satislied with it as it is. I am not the one to be crossexamined. I asked for a full and complete answer. Mr. Nash: Your question is like this one: “Have you left oil beating your wife? Yes or no? Uproar In Hall Uproar in all parts of the hall drowned further remarks being heard. Boos and calls of “answer the question, yes or no,” were freely hurled at the stage. “He wants me to tell him what the country quota is,” said Mr. Nash. “The country quota suggests that 72 men in the country are equal to 100 in the town." A voice: They are in a country where everything comes from the country. "It concerns the man that makes the plough just as much as the man who drives it,” said the Minister. A voice: That is no kind of answer. Mr. Nash: 1 am telling them the difference between representation of the country and the town. The Labour Government will not let anything be done that will stop full representation of the country electorates. DISPUTE OVER MOTION NO DECLARATION MADE REFUSAL OF AMENDMENT (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON N„ this day. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, addressed electors at Rongotea last evening, much interest being shown in the meeting. Settlers were present from a very wide area. The Minister spoke much on the lines of his previous addresses, dealing principally with the guaranteed price.

At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence wag proposed and also an amendment expressing thanks, but also of no confidence. The amendment was not accepted on the ground that it was a direct negative to the motion.

The motion met with considerable opposition and no declaration was made by the chairman as to the result when the issue was put to the meeting.