LABOUR PARTY'S ATTITUDE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 13

LABOUR PARTY'S ATTITUDE

SOME CHANGE ■ INDICATED

UNEMPLOYMENT BILL THE TEST.

Al EMBER'S SIGNIFICANT WORDS.

(Ry Wire— Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The remarks of Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier) in the House to-night on the Unemployment Bill arc of more than passing interest in view of indications that Labour’s attitude to the Government may undergo some change. “No measure will put the Government to the test more than this measure, Mr. Barnard declared. “Many _ people have been suffering misery during the last two or three years, and the country as a whole is looking to the Government to provide a measure that will give them relief. What is wanted is a measure that - will provide people with work at a decent living wage, and under properly organised conditions. If no work is found, then the country expects that a decent sustenance allowance... will be made available.

“I appeal to the Government that it should put aside the fears which it seems to possess and so amend the Bill as to give effect to the very sound social principle on which it is founded.” ■The nature of the first legislative measures, of the Government introduced in the last few days plainly does not afford satisfaction to many of the members on the Opposition side of the House, and there is .by no means general contentment on the Labour benches, as was evident from the criticism of the Unemployment Bill last Friday and the reception accorded the Customs resolution last night. There have been indications for some time that the members of the Labour Party are not unanimous in the present policy of keeping the Government in office with the aid of their solid party vote, and the events of last week have caused some of these objections to come hearer the surface.

The attitude of the party towards the Government since the annual conference of the Labour organisation last Easter has been to give continued qualified support, provided that the reforms which Labour regards as necessary are effected. The opinion is not concealed by some of the members of the Labour Party that the few proposals brought down by the Government so far this session are causing them to reflect as to whether they should continue to accord their support., One Labour, member remarked to-day that there is a spirit of restiveness in the party, and a section is advocating a definite cessation of the present policy of conditional alliance with the United Party in the voting lobbies. A caucus of the Labour party was held this afternoon, when matters > relating to the party’s attitude in the House were discussed, and it is understood the question of further support to the Government will be raised at other meetings to be held shortly.