LATE REFORM WHIP

Southland Times, Issue 20225, 9 July 1927, Page 7

LATE REFORM WHIP

. EXPLANATION IN HOUSE. (Special to the Times.) Wellington, July 7. In the House of Representatives to-night, Mr W. S. Glenn, ex-Reform Party Whip, gave an explanation of his position in relation to the Government. He assured the house at the outset that he was not connected with a laundry, so did not intend to wash any dirty linen. Mr K. Howard: Then there is some? Mr H. T. Armstrong: Are you keeping it? Mr Glenn said because he had had a difference with the Government, this did not indicate that every member of Parliament was not equally entitled to differ from any party. Capital had been made of his difference over the Agricultural College, and though he had voted with the Government on the general principle of improving scientific research, he regretted that the Government had paid £6O per acre for a place which, if put up to auction to-day, would not fetch £35. He felt he had given fair service to his party and the time was due when he should take an attitude which would give him greater freedom. "One could then, at least,” he said, “feel that one was taking part in the country’s business.” Mr Glenn blamed the Government for its action in allowing economic stress to develop. Parliament should have been called together as soon as the indication pointed to the rocks ahead, and in a few weeks action could have been taken towards the reduction of luxuries which would have relieved the position a great deal. People had bought motor-cars and were now sorry they ever bought them. "Because one dares to speak the truth,” Mr Glenn said, “he is called a pessimist. I am not a pessimist, but I believe it is better for the country to know what it is going to face.”