NO- CONFIDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1371, 23 February 1912, Page 6

NO- CONFIDENCE.

EXCITING DAY IN PARLIAMENT.

MR-PAYNE & HIS PLEDGEo

SCATHING CRITICISM.

REMARKABLE SPEECH BY MR. HINDMARSH.

:.'One.of. the-main characteristics of the political situation -yesterday wns the teuse -eicitomont that prevailed. The strain upon .the principal actors, in it. and also upon thqsd whose' votes '.are regarded as doubtful,- must have been very great, there has been' no ' change ip ' tho ! position, and . there is itiil every indicatipn that, the -Reform pYirty will win'by four vote?.' Mr. Payno will break Jiis election pledges, but no ojher .member is at. nil likely to do so. I'l'ho debafeha's beon unnecessarily proIpnged by the Govurnthont in tho hope ol influencing Iho votes of Messrs. Atmore and Uobertsoii, but more particularly the latter. The Vasto of time.yesterday afternoon over formal business, which interests nobody "Just iuw, was-most noticeable. The Opposition wore ready and willing to tdko a division, but not so the Government. The Opposition, did not bother to put-up a"speaker to reply to Mr. liussoll, '.who spoko oh Wednesday evening, so Mr. Sidey followed 'him, and Mr. Macdonald, tho Government Whip, followed Mr. Sidey. Thus, bofore the afternoon sitting was over, there had been three Government speakers in succession. The publia and inombcrs themselves wore- alicidy tired of tho "debate, and of the suspense that was lieing so long-drawn-out, but the Government party must needs keep it going in the forlorn hope that by somo ' means or qther their scheming would influence a couple of votes, which at the best would give them but a barrui victory on tho casting vote. of the Speaker. Meantime tho intrigues that have been going on with a view to getting members ■to break their pledges have become a positive scandal. Little coteries of elecbrs have beon got together to pass resolutions to ask men to go. back on their-pledges, and certain members have stated, in the presence of witnesses, that they have been offered bribes to change their vote. It is just as well that the country should know ; what is going on. It is not suggested that these bribes have beon offered by ; anyone in Parliament, but that they have ■ been offered is undoubted. The fact that both Sir Joseph Ward and the Hoii. Mr. Millar are to stand [down in favour of others on their ide leaves the Liberal party in a ■ parlous ; plight, and it was stated yesterday, that thoro is a possibility of'similar announce^ • iii'e'nts, from' other Ministers.' The only m'fm.whosename'-is.mcritioncd-as the new leader'...of.--.,the party 'is Mr.' Thos. • Mackenzie. The two main features of the i'situation aro that tho Reform party is '. absolutely solid, harmonious, and cnthusi- '. nstic, whereas tho Government party is from happy, and there are on every 'hand'' signs of. disruption in its ranks. When Mr. Macdonald, tho Government Whip, said last, night that the Opposition had not a majority in the country, there veere Opposition cries of "Tnko a division! take a division!".and Mr. Massey smilingly threw tho;challengc across the floor, "Let's go to .tho Country." The Government Whip,: however, evinced no eagerness to accept cither challenge. Tho excitement grow, greater when Mr. Payno rose at'B o'clock to admit that ho had given' his word to Toto against the Ward party, but was going to break it. The' Governor's Speech was his excuse. "If I deem.it expedient to break a pledgn for the benefit of the. people I represent," lio said,.;.."l shall break it without compunction." . Mr. Payne's .announcement of the breaking of his election pledges roused Mr. Harris, of Waitemata, to one of the most .pitiless denunciations ever given utterance to in the House. Mr. Payno sat pale and silent, and the Houso listened with rapt attention to the outpouring of the scorn of tho member for Waitemata. Mr. Payno made an attempt to further explain tho position, but failed to aronso any enthusiasm. ; Then followed Mr. Hindmarsh with a most extraordinary speech. Ho smote the Government hip and thigh, and praised Mr. Massey for his splondid work. At the same time ho, unlike Mr. Payne, had given no pledge. Having staggered the Houso with his denunciation of Wardism and his condemnation of Mr. Millar, he calmly announced that on this occasion ho would vote with Sir Joseph Ward. Ho would give him a fortnight to carry out his programme—a statement which creatod much mirth. During the rest of his speech, Mr. Hindmarsh had the House in fits of laughter. Ho proved to -be-!! most unconventional speaker. After all these fireworks, Mr. Vigor Brown came on tho scene as a veritable rushlight. Mr. Brown wanted to stop af 11,' but Mr. Massoy urged that they should come to a finish. The country, he laid, was getting very dissatisfied with what was taking place. Sir Joseph Ward «aid. it was understood they were to stop ■>ach evening at 11 o'clock. The Speaker «aid that no resolution had been passer] byvthe House, but Mr. Brown could risl moving the adjournment of the debate Mr. Brown, however, elected to go cr with his speech. When he had finisher! and Mr. Campbell had said a few verj straight words in reply, the House rose A telegram published in another cohunt gives a very instructive insight into tin methods which nro being used to pc certain members to break their pledges A deputation from Mr. Wilford's Hut Comtni.tteo went to Wnnganui and appeal ed' to the oxecntivo of Mr. Vcitch's elec tion committee, asking that Mr. Veitc.l be .requested to pair with Mr. Wilford reciucst, which is described as "ai impudent attempt to get at Mr. Veitcl through the. medium of his committee,' was not acceded to.