UNITED GOVERNMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 9, 6 March 1930, Page 8

UNITED GOVERNMENT

IS THE END AT HAND?

COMMENT BY LABOUR M.P,

INVERCARGILL, March 0

At a meeting here to-night Mr I). O'Sullivan. Labour M.P. for Avon, said it was somewhat difficult for him, as a Member of Parliament to discuss at present such a delicate matter as the political situation. 'The question on every one’s lips was, ‘‘What is going to happen?” He would say that if the present Government could emoigo through the coming session it would be one of the wonders in the political history of New Zealand. The forthcoming session would he a working one. Introduction had all been completed and the Government must bring down its legislation. In his opinion it seemed, a very difficult matter for the Prime Minister to steer his ship successfully through the rocks and shoals everywhere. They all know of the illness of Sir Joseph Ward, and the whole country regretted it, hut it was extremely difficult f° r him to steer his ’ party, especially if ho could not he present in the House as its leader. Without his . presence there it was impossible for the United Party to survive. Mr Sullivan predicted that once the United Party lost Sir Joseph Ward it would collapse like a pack of cards. In addition to the loss of Mr Wilford, who the speaker said had been a tower of strength to his party, there was dissension in the party itself. The defection of- three members who recently disassociated themselves from the party on the grounds that they had no further confidence in it, must he a severe blow oven to a strong party, as as 'hey all knew, the United Government was a minority party, only able t 0 retain power by reason or the Opposition being divided into two hostile camps. Mr • Sullivan referred to the expulsion of Mr Davy and the : resignation of the secretary of the party, Mr Pope, and the organiser, Mi Molier, and said that a big" gap had been created by dissension. Thus, he said, the Government had lost much 1 of its prestige and they would realise how difficult it would be for it to go through its full term Mr Sullivan added (hat the Samoan difficulty had been accentuated by the policy of the Government in resorting to force. Ho believed the whole country was more or less ashamed of, the policy tiro Government had pursued and this view was hold by all, irrespective of their political views.