GOVERNMENT’S MAJORITY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1933, Page 9

GOVERNMENT’S MAJORITY

DISCIPLINE IN THE COALITION LITTLE INTEREST IN NEW PARTY. VALUE OF UPPER HOUSE IN DOUBT. NO INDICATION OF SESSION’S WORK (Daily News Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, Feb. 11. The Government now seems to be assured of sufficient support to enable it to place the remainder of its legislation for this session on the Statute Book. There is no doubt that a majority of the House is opposed to the Government’s policy, but there is still enough discipline in the ranks of the Coalition to quell anything in the nature of a breakaway. Another 'factor standing the Government in good stead is the unwillingness of the ex-M&ister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) to lead' any' group that may ally itself under bis banner. At the present time there is no alternative to Coalitionists who are opposed to giving the Labour Party an opportunity to gain'the Treasury benches. The formation of the new party' with its “liberal principles” has excited little or no .interest in political circles. It is.the general opinion that the men who have so faxidentified themselves with the new movement have not sufficient mana or experience to make an effective appeal to the people. Certainly among the personnel of the new party there is no figure with the magnetism possessed by Sir Joseph Ward when he appealed to the electors in 1928. In fact the men who are at the head of the organisation have Sir Joseph Ward to thank for the fact that they obtained any political limelight at all, POLITICAL NOVICES. Of those outside the House who have so far been associated with the so-called All New Zealand Party, Messrs. J. B. Donald and W. B. Taverner have both had ministerial experience, but both were still looked upon as political novices when they ceased to be members of the General Assembly. Inside the House the only member who has identified himself with the new party is Mr. A. .J. Stallworthy. It is known that the support of other men was canvassed, but they refused to be as impetuous as Mr. Stallworthy. It was stated that at one time Messrs. W. A. Bodkin, W. A. Veitch and D. McDougall had flocked to the colours, but they have denied that they are anything more than interested. Mr. Veitch, for instance, has had plenty of experience in the launching of new parties, and he knows the chances of dismal failure. ’lt has to be remembered that the formation of at least half a dozen parties has been attempted since the war, but only one of them has succeeded, and that was because of the mana of one man. PERTURBATION OVER BANKS BILL. It is not generally known that at one stage the Government was seriously perturbed about the fate of the Banks. Indemnity (Exchange) Bill in the Legislative Council. There are 22 members of the Council and over half of them were personally opposed to the action of the Government in raising the exchange. When this fact became known the Government did a little hard thinking, . and it is authoritatively stated that consideration was given to a proposal to appoint sufficient new members to carry the day. It was hinted to one or two members, however, that their re-appointments might be more favourably considered if they fell into line with the Government s policy. . . . . This raises the whole question or tne value of the Legislative t Council at all. It is a commonplace that it has for years been the haven of rest for political rejects,” and has been so dominated by the Government of the day that it is only on legislation of secondary importance that it dares to offer any real criticism. Theoretically the Upper House is supposed to be a check on the House of Representatives, and it is held that the Council does valuable revisory work, but in order to carry out these functions it must have both competence and independence. Neither of these essential attributes seems to be prevalent in the present Legislative Council. , Men like Sir Francis Bell do valuable service to the State, but they are an ineffective minority. One authority m political science has compared the running of a country’s affairs to the management of a big joint stock company, such as a bank, and has pertinently added that no bank would think of having an upper and lower board of directors. DIVISIONS ON SALES TAX. The Sales Tax Bill has been better received than was generally anticipated, but it will be the subject of a lengthy debate. The Government will not have the whole-hearted support of its followers at the divisions which will certainly be forced by the Labour Party, but its majority may be greater than that on the second reading of the Banks Indemnity (Exchange) Bill. It is expected that the main objections will be that the tax will raise the cost of living and that it will press most heavily on the poorer classes of the community. On the other hand, the Minister of Finance will argue that he must have the revenue and that the tax has been imposed because of the fact that other, sources of taxation have practically dried up. Members of Cabinet make no secret of the fact that they dislike the sales tax, but their excuse is that it is a matter of necessity. _So far the Government has given no indication of the extent of the remaining legislation of the session, but it can be taken for granted that Cabinet will endeavour to close down as soon as it has put through .its taxation legislation. It is not likely that the Central ResefVe Bank Bill will be before the House again this session, and some of the registration bills which were the subject of caustic comment at the beginning of the session will probably not be heard of again for a long time. The Prime Minister hopes that the business of the session will be concluded in three weeks time, and it is not his intention to call Parliament together again until August next. Of course everything depends on the economic position of the country.