Grey Lynn Member Claims Independence

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 1

Grey Lynn Member Claims Independence

MR. FLETCHER’S SPEECH BLOWS RIGHT AND LEFT ) 2 TIE SUX’B Parliamentary Reporter VE II NG TO X, Friday. In a speech which hit in all directions. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (drey Lynn) ; asserted his independence in the I House this evening- and intimated that | he was verily o£ the independents. | In the Parnell by-election campaign, | he began, members of the Government ! l J nrty were painting the clouds with moonshine, but within the same month, through a statement of the prime Minister, they were daubing the same clouds with pitch. No more dastardly attack on New Zealand credit had been made than that speech. lie dealt with some of the causes of unemployment and went on to prescribe remedies. One factor in the increasing unemployment was the raising of the interest rate to 5t per cent., Jot a few months later New Zealand went on the London market and raised 19,500,000 at a lower rate. What did the Treasury know of the London market in that case? Yet the raising of the rate of interest had disorganised local body finance throughout New Zealand. Air. Fletcher mentioned that last session he had pleaded with- i he Government to have an expert investigation into Arapuni. Now it was contributing to unemployment, not only because of the men dismissed but also because of the industries stopped by lack of power. I ‘ Those are some of the reasons for my removing myself from the Government benches," said Mr. B’letcher. "J don't want to be associated with a Government so inactive.” Regarding the rationalisation of in-" dustries, Air. Fletcher said a committee to investigate industries had been ordered to be set up last session. What had happened? The committee liad not met. yet. "I’m going to fight this Government or any Government if something is not. done," exclaimed Air. Fletcher. “I won't go back to my electorate unless I can get something done. I go to the Alinisters and get a reply that they can't do it or won’t do it, and it’s mostly that they won’t do it.” Voices: No courage, no initiative. Speaking about the railways, Mr. Fletcher claimed that, the commission to inquire into the railways was set up a fortnight before the session to block discussion. Surelv men like Mr Taverner and Air. Sterling could tell what was wrong. Mr. F. Langtsone (Waimarino): He spends most of his time at football matches. Mr. P^letcher thought a Parliamentary committee Avo-uld have been better than a commission.