The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1912. THE ATTACK ON THE MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1912. THE ATTACK ON THE MINISTRY

•> Perhaps the most striking thing about the no-confidence amendment moved in tho House of Representatives bv the Leader of the Reform party last evening was tho absence of any particular evidence of tlio importance of the occasion or of the great issue at stake. In February last everyone was on tho tip-too of expectation when Mr. Massey moved a similar amendment directed against the Ward Administration. Tne atmosphere of tho House on that occasion was electrical and there was the keenest excitement and much anxious speculation concerning the possibilities of the situation. Last evening these things were absent, and the reason is not difficult to discover. There is no real enthusiasm felt for the Mackenzie Ministry, and outsido of a comparatively small section of members its 'fate is regarded as a foregone conclusion. Indeed, it is probable that quite a number of Ministerial supporters who will vote against tho amendment moved by Mr. Massey would be rather disappointed than otherwise if by any mischance it should happen to be rejected. Tho truth of tho matter is that there is a strong' and a growing feeling that change is inevitable and there is really more intorest felt in tho possibilities which may develop out of the defeat of the Mackenzie Ministry than in tho fate of the Ministry itself. Mr. Massey's speech last evening was by the Standing Orders of the House limited to one hour's duration, and in consequence he had to gallop through his remarks at a very fast pace in order to cover even a portion of the material which he had prepared for the occasion. At the close of the speech he apparently had got a little more than half-way through his notes. There wns nothing very new in the matters touched on, but there was quite sufficient to make out a strong case against the Mackenzie Government. Two of his strongest points were thoso relating to the omissions from the Governor's Speech and the conflicting opinions of the members of Cabinet on tho land question. The Loader of the Rc.fnrm pn-vl-y showed UhaU desjjite the multitude of mat*.

tors great and small, touched on in Mm Governor's Speech, many of tliem »i. and indefinite terms, the Ministry had carefully avoided pronouncing any opinion or putting forward any policy on many still more important questions which called for immediate attention. Mr. Massey's speech was carefully restrained and free from any suggestion of carping or J acerbity and plainly created a good impression. For some reason the Ho.v. G. AV. Russell was put up to reply, and although he indulged in a great deal of sound and fury and made one or two party points worth the making, he was far from effective. No doubt it was asking rather much of him Ho lead off for the Government, but even so something bq/cter is expected from a Minister of the Crown than silly assertions to the effect that if his opponents got on the Treasury benches they would repeal the Old Age Pensions Act, and so 011. Mr.. llussell Slay believe such rubbish, but it does not say very much for his judgment °t 1 1 te r l hge . , n cc if he thinks that sort oi stuff will convinco anybody, or is going to do him or his party any f?° -n Government is not, if Mr. Russell's speech last night is the key of its swan-song, going to defeat with dignity. . The anger of this Minister in his concluding sentences has an obvious meaning, but cLS 31 Vol 'y, 6 r oafc pity that its seise of hnmour has gone with the Ministry s, prestige, if ever it had any prestige. Why do Ministers seek to virtue out of the fact that in i lo^ l ' o vo ¥ c ' 011 they will go 0 - r will simply have to, as IU.R. Russell was reminded. ' And why spoil the declaration that they S° , ol jt honourably" with such a silly mis-lut as Mr. Russell's truculent declaration to Me. Allen that they were "not going to imitate the example set by his [Mr. Allen's] predecessors." The allusion was to the Atkinson Government's appointment ot Legislative Councillors. But what iias the Atkinson Government to do With the Reform party? And even it there were any connection between tho two, the reply would bo that although the Legislative Council was almost entirely composed of "Liberal nominees when he took office, •?i. J" acken zie indulged himself with the appointment of three more. It is a relief, all the same, to know that for some time at least tho country will be spa'red any further "Liberal nominations to the Council. No doubt Mr. Mackenzie will make abetter defence of his Ministry than that attempted by his junior, but it is not likely to affect the result when tho division comes to be taken.