BETWEEN TWO FIRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 5

BETWEEN TWO FIRES

AIR. VEITCH’S DILEAIMA. (By Telegraph—From Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 27. Air. Veitch found himself between two fires in the House to-night when he pleaded that the Liberal and Labour parties should not mutually destroy one another in attempting to bring about the defeat of the Govern“l wonder what is going to become of the workers of this country,” he said, 1 ‘if the two sections of the Opposition are going to concentrate the whole of their debating power against each other while the workers’ enemy on the Treasury benches smiles and enjoys the sport.” (Laughter). “We have a Government on the Treasury benches which was defeated at the polls at the last election.”

The Speaker: “I am afraid the hon. gentleman is getting away from he point.” (Laughter).

Air. Veitch: “I have said all I can say on the point -t this stage.” Air. Veitch proceeded to make a few observations in regard to the Labour Party.

The Prime Alinister: “Deal it out.” Mr. Veitch: “I don’t know whether the right hon. gentleman likes me criticising his friends, but I had better get on with the business.” Air. Veitch said he understood from the Press that the leader of the Labour Party had promised to come to Parliament to help the Liberal Party :.o drive the present Government out of power — that was, if they were able to do so. They might succeed yet. Air. Massey: “Will they?” “It seems to me,” said Mr. Veitch, “that that pledge is not being fulfilled by the Labour Party concentrating its full strength on another section of hte Opposition.” The Labour Party had been going round saying J .hat the Lib-eral-Labour Party was a corpse. If that was so, it seemed rather foolish for the Labour Party to concentrate the whole of its opposition on a corpse. (Laughter). He suggested they should try to get away from the spirit of captious criticism and endeavour to get a majority of the House to do their best for the low-paid members of the Public Service.

Air. H. T. Armstrong. Labour member for Christchurch East, was unkind. He straightway proceeded to quota from a Gisborne paper what Air. Veitch was recently reported to have said in favour of the unification of the Reform and Liberal Parties —that if the Prime Minister would stand aside there was no reason why they should not unite under the leadership of Hon. Coates. (Laughter). Mr. Veitch attempted to assure the House that the statement as published was not correct.

Mr. Armstrong: In any case it may not be what the member for Wanganui said, but it is correct. (Laughter).