PARTY POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 192, 14 August 1931, Page 13

PARTY POLITICS.

Strong Condemnation from Maori Member. ATTACKS REFORM ATTITUDE (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 14. “I am sick and tired of the jokes made on the floor of this House at the expense of the woe and tribulation of this country,” was the preliminary outburst of the Southern Maori member, Mr T. Makitanara, when he discussed the political position during the Financial Debate. He demanded of the Reform members why not stand to their guns and tell the country what was keeping them from fusion? Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North): They are frightened of you. Mr Makitanara: They are frightened they will sink. Don’t play ducks and drakes. (Laughter). He went on to suggest that the right note had been struck by Mr Downie Stewart, but that the Leader of the Opposition did not know whether he stood on his head or his legs. The Reform Party was split and scattered to the four winds. Mr D. Jones (Reform) : This is not a party speech. Mr Makitanara: No, a commonsense Mr J. A. Nash (Reform) : A very silly one. The Maori member proceeded to give credit to the Labour Party for making its position quite clear, one of its members having stated that it would be a godsend to the country that we were nearing the end of this Parliament. ‘‘We will,” he concluded, ‘‘march with the banner of the people on our shoulders, but Reform will have the shattered banner on one side and the Labour banner on the other when the firebells ring in November.” (Laughter). Mr P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) : Will the hon member rely on the casting vote of the returning officer this time ? Mr Makitanara: The more empty the kerosene tin the more noise it makes when it is beaten. (Laughter). “There has been a good deal of noise from over there,” remarked the next Reform speaker, Mr J. Linklater (Manawatu).