REFORM VICTORY.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15276, 28 June 1923, Page 5

REFORM VICTORY.

ANOTHER LABOUR MOVE.

DEFEATED BY THREE VOTES. AN ELECTRICAL ATMOSPHERE. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Yet another amendment by Labour to that of the Leader of the Opposition was tabled this afternoon. In accordance with Labour's method thp text of it was announced in the peroration of the mover's speech. Mr McCombs (Lyttelton) had spent an hour criticising the Government for their action in reducing the salaries of public servants, and the wages of workers. There was nothing new in his speech, which followed closely the lines of his speech on the No-Confi-dence debate in the February session, even to the quotation of what the British Government did to the public servants. In the presentation of the second Labour amendment, there is evidence of a method that may be followed; that is, of moving an amendment to every clause of Mr Wilford's. That gentleman detailed ten individual instruments of legislation (a year's work, said Mr Massey last night) that should be passe.d before the session ended. The first Labour amendment was attached to the first clause, and now after the second comes Mr McCombs. Is it possible that Labour will stonewall the debate to the extent of moving ten amendments to the Wilford amendment? If so, it would require a mathematician to indicate by the process of permutation' and combination, to what further extent they may go before the Address-in-Reply is finally disposed of. Despite the fact that the seconder of the Labour amendment plainly told the Opposition that he expected that some of them would help. the Government to carry on, leaving the others to perpetrate the mockery of carrying on a running sham fight, Mr Wilford kissed the rod and, rising after him, told the House that the new amendment was acceptable to him, and that he would support it. The New Development.

The House retired t 0 tea at Bellamy's to digest the new development and its possibilities. The text of the McCombs' amendment is: "Provided that there shall be no reduction in income lax until the salaries and wages of public servants and other wages affected by the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1922, and Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1922, have been restored to the equivalent of their prowar standard measured in purchasing power." Interest in the debate quickened to a vital point after the lea adjournment.

Replying to a taunt from Mr Veitch (Wanganui) that the Reform Party were wasting time with their speeches, the Prime Minister replied that the Government were prepared to bring down the Financial Statement tiie next night if the House would let tf.cni. He deplored the fact that the Liberals could not subordinate party to the interest of the country, and described Mr Veitch as the bitterest party man in the House. Mr Massey went on to express his opinion of the new Labour amendment, which he said would upset the Arbitration Court work for two years, apd there was a rapid crossfire of interjection from all pa.rls of the Chamber. Bitter Denunciation by Premier. The atmosphere was electrical. Pairs had been refused by the Liberal and Labour parties, and the Chamber was full. " i'ou can have the division now if you want it," declared the Prime Minister-. He reviewed the hard times the Government had in makh.s their expenditure fit a slumped income, and he bitterly denounced the Opposition benches for having harassed rather than helped them in their efforts to bring about the retrenchment which was demanded by the House, the country, and the party press. He referred with great warmth to the rumours that ho said were circulated by the Opposition that he was intending to retire from public life.

"I will not retire," he said dramatically, "while the country needs me; but when an opportunity comes for slowing down I will do so." As to the suggesion about " Lord Massey," he said he had resisted the temptation to accept honours up to now, and ho hoped he would be able to do so till the end. He declared, in conclusion, that to accept the Labour amendment involved foregoing the penny postage and the remission of the duty on tea. He offered to apply for a dissolution, and go to the country on the question if the Opposition' agreed. After a rapid cross-fire between the Primo Minister and the leader of the Labour Party, the division was taken and resulted in a majority of three for the Government, for whom Messrs Bell, Witty and Isitt voted. The Labour Party then moved its third amendment, adding words to Mr Wilford's third point, providing for increased pensions, and a mystified House rose at midnight wondering what is yet before it.