THE SESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 206, 3 September 1935, Page 8

THE SESSION

PARTY ALIGNMENT MR. SAVAGE’S MOVE ENTER THE DEMOCRATS WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. Parliament is making the usual leisurely start with its business, and it will probably be a few weexs yet before the Government and memuer? begin to realise that time is limited and that there is a General Election in the ouing. Then the rush will begin ami Bills and Estimates will be pusned tiirougu in a lively helter-skelter to the country. This weeK will see the commence meat of tiie real business of the session —the Address-in Reply debate. Following the usual custom, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage) has given notice or an amendment to the Address, but there is probably more reason behind the move this yeai than during the past few years. Lauoui is anxious to secure a uelinite alignment of those who support the Government and those who do not, and a straight-out no-confidence motion, such as tnat Mr. Savage has given notice to move, will allow a delimte dividing line Ao be draw n. ISome members whr have maintained an Independent attitude during the past few sessions’havbeen very quiet lately, and Labour’s move is aimed to gel them to commit themselves one way or the other be fore members go to the country. Mr. Savage will open his attack on the Administration on Wednesday afternoon, and no doubt there will be lull gal.cries to hear him. Whatever opinions may be held about the Opposition leader’s political views, there is general agreement that he is a forceful speaaer, with his facts well marshalled. The task of replying to Mr. Savage will again devolve upon the Minister of Lands (the Hon. Sir Allred Ransom), who as Acting Prime Minister kept the Government machinery moving while the two leaders were abroad. As a practical farmer, L’r Allied may be expected to deal at some lengtn with Labour’s promises to the man on the land, especially the promise ot guaranteed prices. The Minister of Lands holds strong views on the guaranteed price issue, and will probably develop his case at some length when he speaks on Wednesday. One interesting feature of the debate this session promises to be the entry of the Democrat Party into the Parliamentary picture for the first lime. The Democrats have two representatives in the House —the North island deputy leader, Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) and Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, the member for Eden. Both members are practised speakers and they may be reded on to make the most of the new party’s case, which has been briefly outlined by the party leader (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) but not yet elaborated. Messrs. \ eitch and Stallworthy will have no easy path to tread during the present session, for it appears certain that every man's hand will be against them. Although it is evident that Mr. Savage’s amendment is doomed to fail, considerable interest will attach to the division list. Members at least will be on side or (as some may prefer to put it) off side. ITALY AND ABYSSINIA DEBATE BY MEMBERS ( Per Prsss Association. ) WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. Questioned whether Parliament would be afforded an opportunity of discussing the situation existing between Italy and Abyssinia, especially having regard to the provisions of the Covenant of the League of Nations, Mr. Forbes to-night expressed the view that the debate on the Address in Beply would provide an early and appropriate opport nity for members of Parliament to express their views. ’•lndeed,” said Mr. Forbes, “the Government wou.d very much welcome an expression of members’ views on the very difficult questions involved, and 1 hope members will take the opportunity afforded by the debate on the Address in Reply.”