"WORTH THE PRICE”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 15

"WORTH THE PRICE”

Getting Rid of the Reform Party. MR LYSNAR SATISFIED. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 14. The declaration that it would be a calamity if the Reform Party were returned to power was made by Mr Lysnar (Independent, Gisborne) in tne course of his Budget debate speech in the House. “ Reform has had it's trial and how the United Party should % be given a run,” he said. Mr Lysnar attributed the difficulties the Government was at present facing in large measure to the extravagance of the Reform administration. The present Government, he maintained, could not be accused of extravagances. Its history had been one of economies. The Government hod done its best to meet the situation. It was entitled to a fair trial. Nobody liked the taxation proposals, but these were absolutely necessary in his opinion. Reform members should be the last to criticise, as their party nubscribed to the principle of balancing the Budget Says One Thing, Does Another. “My complaint about the Reform Party,” Mr Lysnar added, “ is that it says one thing and goes outside and does another.” Mr Samuel (Reform, Thamesi r What do you do? Mr Lysnar: I give a square *un When I put my signature to a document I stand by it. Mr Lysnar said the Reform Party had promised to cut off the heads of trusts and combines, but instead had propped them up. The same party had been responsible for blocking the present Prime Minister from securing all he wanted to obtain from the petrol tax. He alleged that the reason for that was to prevent Mr Forbes from receiving cred : t for derating farm lands. Reform had failed in its duty in not supporting the LTnited Party two years ago, and was only doing so now under the lash of outside opinion Reform had left the Government at the mercy of the extreme Labour Party. “It was worth the price, however, to get rid of the Reform Party,” said Mr Lysnar. “ I was hitched \ip with it for ten years.” Mr Nash (Reform, Palmerston) : Not hitched up. It pushed you off Only Looking for Office. Mr Lysnar: It did nothing of the sort. I pushed it off. Until the United Party reared its head I had no one else to support except my Labour friends. They knew there was a big cavern between us which I could not jump. All the Reform Party is | looking for is office. It will not be I content until it gets hold of Cabinet positions.” Mr Lysnar accused the Reform Party of standing for the big*commercial interests, and if the people of the Dominion were wise they would put Reform candidates at the bottom of the poll. He trusted the Reform Party would not be able to fear its head after next general election. There was no doubt that Reform was largelv responsible for the storm through which the country was passing. Mr Savage (Labour. Auckland West) : Why diet you vote for Reform in 1928? Mr Lysnar: To keep you out. (Laughter.) “ But it was the United Party which went in,” protested Mr Savage. National Government. Mr Lysnar said he would like to see a National Government formed.” “ And postpone the general election queried Mr Dickie (Reform, Patea) Mr Lysnar: If necessary. Mr Dickie: It would suit you. Mr Lysnar: No. It would not ;uit me. My seat does not give me the least concern. Mr Lysnar added that he was look ing to the United Party to come back stronger, and the Labour Party would perhaps secure a few more seats.