AMENDMENT LOST.

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

AMENDMENT LOST.

A FURTHER AMENDMENT/ A FORTNIGHTS GRACE. At midnight-, Sir. Mtissey's amendment was put to the vole by llio Speaker, and declared lost on (he voices. Mr. G. M. THOMSON (Diincdm North) rose immediately afterwards a\\A explained (lint (he anieiufmeiit had been allowed to go on tho voices because there was another to lie proposed. He moved: "That the House stand adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, March 11." This, said Mr. Thomson, would she llm Prime Minister reasonable time ill which to carry out any cha.ije lli.it they proposed to mnkp, and to enable members to have that change submitted to them before they wont back to their constituencies. He lu<lil Unit they were entitled to know who were (o Ije the new Ministers. If they went awiiy without knotting this they would stultify themselves, and

go away leaving (he whole thing in a , ,, muddle,"and in a state of ohaos and dark* Mr. E. NEWMAN (llangiUkei), who sow omled the amendment, said that ho felt, with his colleagues, that they would fail in their duty if they went away without compelling the Government to'accede to' , their wishes. Ho had not tho slightest doubt that if an election took place now, only two parties would bo considered by (hi! people, and the Word party would not l:o one of them.

Mr. C. E. Stnlh'am (Duncdin Control) entered an emphatic protest against the ladies of the Government party, which had earned them a dishonourable victorv. To who broko (heir pledges he would Ihrtnv cut a hint that directly the session was over they should resigu and go direct to their constituents. Tho Premier's Intentions. Sir .T. WAIID said tho real object of the amendment was to get a rc-test of (he no-, coiifidenco question. Mr. Masy!)': No. It wns moved by a. private member. , Sir J. Ward also denied (hat ho ■piv- : mised. lo retire in order to get votes io the House. Some of his friends knew, somo time ago what ho intended to do. Mr. Isilt: Hear, hear. . . The Primo Minister went on to insist that there must bo legislation to limit the use of motor-cars at elections. , Mr. Massey said ho would be glad to support: it. Mr. Fisher said he had looked up throe of the "precedents" mentioned by the Prime Minister, and found that the latter was wrong every time. Would the Prime Minister say that after his promised resignation he would not again accept the Prime Ministership the same day, or some later day. The Prime Minister: I don't do that eort of thing. You do. "1 don't break my word," said tho Priim Minister a little, later. Mr. Fisher: 1 am very glad to hear it, but 1 am surprised that the hon. gentleman should be content to lean on a broken wont! Soon afterwards Mr. lnsher declared his belief that if the House adjourned at this time, Sir Joseph Ward would meet the House again as Prime Minister. Sir Joseph Ward: T -won't. Mr. Ell (to Mr. Fisher): Now tako H all back.

Mr. Fisher said thai; he | was glad that, by close questioning, lie had extracted a plain statement: from tlio Primo Minister. Mr. BUCHANAN ridiculed the Prime Minister's statement that motor-enrs worth .180.000 linil been used against the Government in Wellington. It would ba nearer the truth, Mr. Buchanan declared. , to assess the viilun of tin. , ears at .t'GOOO, Mr. OUEY urged the Prime Minister to undertake to bring down an Elective Executive Bill during Vho iir.st business session of Parliament. If this wore dona he would not mind (ho present Cabinet holding oiiico meantime.