UNITY IN PRESENT PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 11

UNITY IN PRESENT PARLIAMENT

Sir.— There seems much diversity ol opinion as to Mr Forbes’ offer to Re form to build up a National Govern nient formed of those who have the true interests of New Zealand at heart. Mr ('nates, :is chief representative of the Reform Party, turned the offer down, and has split hail’s ever since, giving his reasons why he took this

stand. Now, ever since Mr Forbes became Premier he has worked consistently to get New Zealand’s monetary' affairs on to a sounder basis as Dominion conditions would permit. Ho may have wobbled slightly just before he left for England to attend the Premiers’ Conference, but it was a stern matter to get present business done or not attend the conference. Even Mr Coates cannot say that at that conference (a farce), Mr Forbes in any' way failed where he might have achieved. When he returned to New Zealand he at once took a firm stand with regard to New Zealand’s finance, and he did not turn a hair’s breadth until his finance bill became Jaw, and an amendment to the Arbitration Act was made possible. This he did in. the face of strenuous opposition from the Labour Partys which latter party was sometimes backed in votes by a country party and some Independents. He risked his party’s chances at the next election a few months hence, and assisted, I must say in this case, by Reform, he got his Bill through. He took almost impossible chances, plus alienation of numbers of votes at next election. to put this work through, made possible in this case by the same stand that Mr Coates and his party, backed by one or two Independents, took.

Not until the worst and most bitter fight was over did Air Forbes appeal to Mr Coates to help to form a National Government to protect the Dominion’s best interests. In this case Mr Forbes made the finest gesture of overture made in the whole of the British Empire since the world slump started. He offered to forego his Premiership, his Cabinet Ministers’ positions, and trust everything as to the future Premiership and Cabinet Ministry to the votes of tho united bodies of Reform and United Parties, plus any Independents who cared to come in, and Mr Coates, as representing Reform, turned it down, his answer being a specious reply of why he could not join to make a National Government.

Labour in England, Australia, New Zealand, and other British Dominions, has its right and left wings, but when it comes to a matter of passing any bill of value, no matter how they feel towards one another, they let party differences go and present a united front until their object is obtained. Now, United and Reform ou their present basis are only right and left wingers, and yet Reform will risk sane government, and make a pawn of New Zealand statutes for future days, all for tho sake of a name. Well may Air AlcLeod, when referring to Air W. J. Polson’s sane stand on this matter, and by way of sarcasm against Air Polson, and to justify Air Coates’ stand, say that circumstances were not tho same as when Air W. Alasscy made his coalition government. Well might he also say that Mr Coates was not the politician that Air Massey was, neither, as many people will agree, is Mr AlcLeod anywhere near to Air Coates; the most that can be said for him is that he is a safe and solid party man. How much did he do for tho farmers when he was Alinister for Lands in the Coates Cabinet, and what did he get put on the Statute Book for the general good of New Zealand? Air Polson seems to have incurred the

envy—we will not say enmity —of many members of the Reform, and also some of the Independents, by his commonsense stand on questions of moment of the day; also that in many instances the view he has put forward on behalf of tho farmers have eventually become law and been put on the Statute Book,

also he voted solid and sound when the Finance Bill was going through, and also on the Bill making possible the Amendment of the Arbitration Act. It has been said that Mr Polson advertises himself too much, being Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, and also M.P. for Stratford. First and last Mr Polson is a great worker, and is on his job as president of the Farmers’ Union, and for tho benefit of the farmers as a class, all the time. His chief fault is that he is isolated in character and does uot advertise himself personally. You never hear people refer to him familiarly by his Christian cognomen, as they did to “Bill” Massey or “Dick’’ Seddon. We have only to look at the stand the Christchurch City Council (Labour Socialist), have taken in regard to Justice Fraser’s rendering of the Amendment of the Arbitration Act, which they practically flout, and backed by Mr D. G. Sullivan, Mayor and also M.P., the council restored the .10 per cent, cut in wages and salaries of tho council employees and returned to tho rate of 15s 4d per day for unemployment relief work, and that the reduction in the wages and salaries of the permanent; employees would be restored to them in full, i.c., 10 reduction retrospective, and that to meet the increase of payment of unemployed relief tho council made a special order to raise a loan of £39. 500, a public body and a Labour Council thus flouting the Finance Act and also Justice Fraser’s decision—and that in face of the fact, that tho financial outlook of New Zealand in regard to unemployment finance is getting worse) every day. Anyone that takes up any part of tin' £.“.9,500 Christchurch Labour Council’s I'mn should have their heads read. You have only to read the papers to see the mess the Labour Government in Australia has made t*» realise tho in herent; weakness of Labour Socialist loan borrowings, ami in New Zealand it is the primary producers who eventually have to earn the interest on the loans, and practically go security for the principal, as the exports of secondary products are practically nil. Yes Mr Coates and his Reform Party would risk handing over the country to a Labour Government, whose high and/ easy finance would destroy all prosperity owing to increased taxation, of which primary products would bear aid the burden, just for the sake of a name. 1

Wo now have four parties in the House, i.e., United, Reform, Labour, ami hide pendent and Country—these two latter grouped together to go before the electors next election. United, Reform, Country and Independent are apparently running for soundness in the country’s financial and moral standing, yet for the sake of a name and a party they will split the votes in practically every electorate, while Labour, as one party only, will vote solid on tho one standing only, i.e., a Labour Government. Further, I would draw the people’s attention to the fact that while th<’ primary producers have Increased theii | bulk exports on all lines from 2 to 51 per cent., in spite of nil the coal mines we have in New Zealand, the key in | dustry. the Government have hail toi import 59,000 tons of coal from Aus | tralia. Mr H. L. Holland. Leader ol the Labour Party, stated ” to 4 ago that he was looking into this mat ’ ter of short, supply, but so far the papers ha\ e not issued any stat emeu: I from him, ami T would now refer thei primary producers to the local papers of recent date, say the 17th inst.. ami Mr Smeaton's statement re I nion min I' ers' stand thereto. —Yours, etc.. C. H. AUSTIN. Rills Road. Stratford.