MR. ALLEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 6

MR. ALLEN.

NO REAL PRECEDENTS. Mr. ALLEN dealt with the supposed Australian precedents and the case of Sir Joseph Wnnr's succession to Jlr. HallJones, and pointed out that they_ were quite different from the present circumstances. Were the members to go back to the country and say that they had not been able "to find out what the Ministry was to be? There was not a, single' precedent in which a \\KK Ministry had taken office, on the castins vote of the Speaker, and not one in which the Prime Minister was pledged to the House and the country to resign J upon winning a no-confidence motion. Jlr. Allen quoted from Todd to tho effect that n Governor had power to prorogue Parliament without the new Ministry meeting tho House, but he could only do so on the understanding that Parliament would meet again as soon as possible; otherwise he could have no assurance that Ministers possessed the confidence of Parliament; and further, the now Ministry must only transact routine business. Would it not bo unfair to the new Ministry to leave them in such a position that his Excellency would require to see that their powers were thus closely restricted? Mr. Allen also insisted that, as things stood, there would be no supplies after "Juno 30. The appropriations ■ extended up to March 31, but the Public Revenues Act permitted expenditure to' go on to .Tune 30. • The Prime Minister should resign at once, and then the whole position would be cleared up and the new Ministry could meet the House and see whether they possessed its confidence. "Let us go to our homes," said Jlr. Allen, "with the knowledge that we have really done tho work which the people sent us here to do."

Mr. Robertson and the Premier's Pledge. Tho Prime Minister said that Mr. Allen had stated that votes had been secured through his action in pledging himself to certain members that ho would resign. Mr. Allen: You got one vote, anyway. Sir Joseph Ward: I want to give that an absolute and unqualified contradiction. Before the House met I made up my mind and 1 have never changed it. Mr. Allen remarked that the member for Otaki had been influenced by the Pri.me Minister's pledge. Sir Joseph Ward: Pledge to whom? Mr. Allen: To the House. Sir Joseph Ward:'lt was an announcement to the House. Mr. Mossey: Did you not make a pledge to individual members? • Sir Joseph Ward: I made no pledge of any sort. In response to inquiries by two members he Ihnd informed them that his resignation implied tho resignation of all the members of the Ministry. The Prime Minister also contradicted Mr. Allen upon the question of the public works authorisations. Mr. Allen retorted that tlio Prime Minister knew that lie hud no power to go on until an Imprest Supply Bill was passed in June. Mr. Allen said that he understood from the speech of the member for Otaki that Mr. Robertson considered he would fulfil the spirit but not tho letter of his pledge by voting as he had, since the Prime Minister had pledged himself to Tesign.

MORE ABOUT LAND. ME. G. W. HUSSELL EXPLAINS. Mr. G. \V. RUSSELL (Avon) said Hint it was quite true that some twelve months ago ho purchased a largo block of somewhat despised land near Lako Taupo. That action was in no way inconsistent with his attitude towards tho tenure of State lands. His constituents were fully aware of the matter, and had demonstrated their confidence in him. He had bought that property not for occupation Ijv himself, hut in the interests of settlement by assisting settlers who 'took up sections in the block. Ho quoted returns showing the acreage and owners of certain large estates. Messrs. Buchanan and Rhodes both interjected that the figures were absolutely incorrect. The Hon. A. T. NGATA explained that ■though registered as a large sheepowner, he held most of the flocks and estates as trustee for certain Maori tribes. Mr. H. M. CAMI'HELL (Hnwke's Bay) replied to Mr. Russell's remarks on large estates, and said that the Maori lands would bo returned at a much higher valuation but for tho bad administration of the Native Lands Departments. "I came down with tho special purpose," said Mr. Campbell,—of seeing tho Ward Government removed, and I was very pleased to hear tho Prime Minister's promise to yomovo himself. It will bo a very good thing for tho country." ,

MR. BRADNEY. WANTS TO SKK TOE NEW MINISTRY. Mr. .T. H. Bradney (Auckland West) supported tho amendment. He said ho was not an owner of land or a single Hock of sheep. The only live stock he had was a Shetland pony and a hull pup. Hon. members: What's his name I , Mr. riradney: Massey. (Much laughter.) We called him Massey because ho came of a good breed. His father cost something like X9O. A minute later Mr. Bradney had the Houso laughing again, owing to his haviim begun a sentence with "Ladies and Koiltloiiii'ii." Hβ explained that lie had been practising on liis constituents. The only Conservatives in this country (said Mr. Braduey) were who were trying to conserve their position on the Treasury benches. Had the Prime Minister not said he would resij-u, the House might well bo content with the course ho now proposed to take, hut there was

nobody clso on the Government side so capable of leading a Government as Sir •lospph Ward, ami therefore the llouso could nut be expected (o go away without having au opportunity of seeing the new Ministry. They could not. tell at present whether 1 it would ])osso?.-i thn confidence of (he House •Ho hqnad that if (lie amendment whs not carried (ho Prime Minister would givo an assurance that no new appointments would bo iiiiulo to t'lio Legislative Council pending the reform of the method of constituting it.

MR. ANDERSON. Prime Minister Expected to Keep his Word. Mr. G. ,T, ANDERSON (Mataurn) said (lie nu-conlidcnce motion had been dileatod by the casting vote of tho Speaker and by certain members breaking their pledges. T'ne Prime Minister had given a plodgo that ho would resign. Tho Prime Minister: 1 did not give a pledge to resign to anybody. I. announced publicly that 1 intended to rtt-ign. Mr. Anderson: Yes, that is so, and by that means you have, secured a vote. Tho Prime Minister: That is what you say. Mr. Anderson: We take your word because you are an hon. gentleman who would not go back on your word. But we TOut to know the personnel of thn new Government, so that we may see whether we have confidence in them. The great majority of the House were in favour of small freeholds, but it appeared that the new Ministry would consist largely of strong leaseholders. He would support tho amendment, but he thought an adjournment of a fortnight might be allowed. None of tiie precedents (moled by the Primo Minister had tho slightest bearing on tho present position. Had the Government taken advantage of its opportunities to pass a Proportional Representation Bill, there would have been no need for any discussion as to which party represented the majority of the people. He would rather sit in a party supported by large landowners than by tho big liquor interests. How many brewers were behind the Liberal party? (Ministerial silence.)

MR. BUCHANAN. A SETTLER FOB FORTY YEARS. Mr. AV. C. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa , ) said he had been held up to ridicule ns a large landowner, but ho was proud of what he had achieved as a settler upon tho land. He had lived in his constituency for forty year?, and ho was confident that any member of tho Government who visited his district and attempted to criticise him unfairly, would be dealt with very fcverely; (Hear, hear.) Mr. Buchanan replied in spirited fashion to the attacks made on tho members of (he Opposition. Incidentally, he expressed his indignation at the manner in which tho Prime Minister attempted In browbeat members, and ho urged the new members to, stand up for themselves. (Hear, hear.) He challenged tho Government- to explain what had become of tho balance of"a. vote of XI6IIO for n road wort in his district, of which only £-K0 had ' been, expended. For five sessions money had been voted for a bridge tit Greytown, and not a penny of that money had ever been spent.