IS GOVERNMENT POPULAR?

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 9

IS GOVERNMENT POPULAR?

JIB. SMITH CHAMPIONS UNITED.

(By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night.

A statement made in the House of Representatives last week that if there w r ere another election the electors would reverse the decision they gave at the eleotion in November was replied to today by Mr. S. G. Smith (United member for New Plymouth). Mr. Smith said the Reform member for Thames, Mr. A. M. Samuel, in making that statement, had based his argument on the election in connection with the Auckland Harbour Board. But what were the facts? Mr. Smith contended that there was no fight in that election as between the Reform and United

Parties. “That is a matter of opinion,’' said Mr. Samuel. Mr. Smith said Mr. Samuel had declared that the whole weight of the United Party was put into the contest. Mr. Samuel: “So it was.” Mr. Samuel had also said that the people of New Zealand, if they went to the poll again would turn the United Party out of office. Mr. Smith pointed out that the junior whip of the Reform Party had aspired to be chairman of the Palmerston llospital Board, but he did not succeed, and Mr. Smith suggested that that should be an indication as to how the wind wall blowing, and that there was cause for Mr. Samuel to become apprehensive of the result of another election. Everywhere the Prime Minister had been enthusiastically received in the course of his tour before the session. Mr. Smith said he had been talking to the Mayor of one of the towns Sir Joseph had visited. The Mayor had remarked that he could feel an atmosphere of sympathy with and friendliness to the Prime Minister. He had added that though he had been associated with the Reform Party for a long time he would not like to run a candidate in opposition to Sir Joseph if an election were to take place within the next few months. Mr. Samuel: ‘‘That was a few months ago?” Mr. Smith: “It was in May.” Mr. Samuel: “There has been ft change of feeling since then.”