LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 83, 17 March 1931, Page 5

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

LABOUR PARTY OPPOSES EXTENSION Q| FUSION OF REFORM AND UNITED

WELLINGTON, This Day. '■ SPEAKING in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of "1 Representatives this morning, the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, said he hoped the Government would make no attempt to prolong the life of the present Parliament, as there was no justification of any such line of action.

That course had been followed during the war, and had meant that Parliament, which should have expired by effluxion of time in 1917. was extended until 1919. The position was far worse to-day, since the conditions did not justify an extension of the time of the present Government. Of course the fusion of the two Conservative elements was possible, and the Government might survive a little longer. It would, in fact, be better if there were fusion with Labour in opposition. It would be better still to have the Labour Party on the Treasury benches with the other sections in opposition.

Speaking later in the debate, Mr. P. Fraser said it would be better if the United and Reform Parties got together and discontinued their sham fight.