POLITICAL OUTLOOK

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1930, Page 16

POLITICAL OUTLOOK

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. LABOUR PARTY’S BELIEF. The idea that a defeat for the Government in-, the Parnell by-election on on May 7 would precipitate a general election is apparently not held in official Labour, circles. An interesting symposium of views on that aspect of the political situation was given at a meeting addressed by Mr. T. Bloodworth, the Labour candidate, at Remuera, on Tuesday evening. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., deputy-lead-er of the Parliamentary Labour Party, in introducing Mr. Bloodworth, told the audience that some would have them believe that, if Mr. Bloodworth was elected, the Government would have to “throw up the sponge,” as it would not be able to carry on. “It is just aa well to remember, then, that we have been going on for about 50 years without a dissolution before the usual time," remarked Mr. Savage. “Whatever happens at this by-election cannot alter the fact that some party has to help the Government if the Government is to carry on, and I leave it to you to say what party that will be.”

Touching on the same subject toward the close of his address, Mr. Bloodworth said: “Of course, if I am returned, my party will not be in power. All I can do this time is to try to see that the United Party will give effect to such planks in its platform as will give relief to the most pressing problems affecting New Zealand during the time the present Government is in office.” Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., who later addressed the meeting, prophesied that there was likely to be an understanding between the Reform and United Parties. A voice: No.

Mr. Jordan said he. did not believe the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, would be a party to such an understanding, but he did believe a number of men in the United Party would be prepared to turn Reform. The Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, who was elected as an independent, had a few years ago been a strong advocate of the fusing of the Reform and Liberal Parties. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, speaking shortly after the general election, had stated the alternatives to be that Reform should support United in office, or that the two parties should fuse, preferably with Sir Joseph Ward as Prime Minister. According to Mr. Jordan, Sir Joseph Ward had been “used by a party to get somewhere, but many members of that party would like to turn him down now that the party is in power. I say that without apologies.”