READMITTED TO COALITION

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1933, Page 9

READMITTED TO COALITION

LENGTHY CAUCUS’ DECISION MR. HARRIS AND SOUTH MEMBERS. MESSRS WRIGHT AND VEITCH OUT. DEFINITE BREAK ANTICIPATED. (By Wire— Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, r Last Night. A caucus of Coalition members was held during the dinner adjournment of the House of Representatives this evening and, as a result of lengthy consideration of the position of those Government members who voted against the Government on Labour’s no-confidence motion, Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) has been re-admitted to the counsels of the Government. ■ • Mr. Harris made the following statement later: “In response to a special written invitation I attended the caucus. The matter of my exclusion from two previous caucuses was fully discussed and it appears that what has happened was more or less the result of a misunderstanding. As far as I am concerned the matter has been satisfactorily ended.” Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago), who voted against the Government on the Banks Indemnity (Exchange) Bill and concerning whose position there has been some doubt, made the following statement late to-night: “I voted against the Banks Indemnity Bill because I firmly , believe that the Government’s action in raising the exchange rate was a disaster and will only add to the country’s difficulties. The-magnitude of the issue in my opinion removed it from party politics and I have no regrets about the way in which I recorded my vote. Under similar cimcumstances I would do the same again. At the same time I agree with Mr. Downie Stewart that political stability should be maintained in this crisis and I am still a member of the Coalition Government. I am supporting the taxation proposals because I am satisfied’that the Government must have the revenue.” Messrs Bodkin, J. McSkimming- (Clutha) and D. McDougall (Mataura) all attended the caucus on invitation and they are all now back in the Government fold. The position regarding Messrs R. A. Wright and W. A. Veitch, however, is not so clear and it is likely they will both definitely break with the Government. Colour was lent to this assumption in the House to-day when Mr. Wright asked for four days’ leave of absence for Mr. Veitch on account of illness in his family. Motions for leave of absence are usually put by the party whips.

“Are you the leader of a new party?" asked Mr. J. A. Nash (Coalition) amid laughter, while Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour) queried: “Have you been chastised?” Mr. Wright smiled broadly but made no reply.