NO-CONFIDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1483, 4 July 1912, Page 6

NO-CONFIDENCE.

PRIME MINISTER'S DESPERATE APPEAL.

OFFER-TO RESIGN.

FURTHER SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE.

ANOTHER OUTBURST BY MR.- LAURENSON.

Tho Houso of .Representatives spent yesterday afternoon in dealing with minor ■ matters. Two hours were occupied in discussing the replies given by Ministers to tho questions of members. The training ship Amokura was for some time a centre of discussion, and Mr. Pcarce inaugurated a. brief debate on the subject oHoans to lecal todies. The action of tho Government in regard to the new l'arlinment Buildings was brought under review by a question from Mr. Hine, and the Ministor for Public Works made a brief slatc- ! ment on tho subject, but did not convey much information.

The only item remaining on the Order Taper ■ (except tho no-confidence- debate, which had been adjourned until 7.T0 p.m.) ■when questions had been disposed of was tho Local Government. Hill (second reading). The Leader of the Opposition was at sent, and Jlr. James Allen objected to going on with the Bill.. "Wo want to know- where wo are first," explained the member forßruce. Tho Government had no other business ready to go on. with, and the House, as on tho previous day, adjourned tho afternoon sitting half an hour before, the usual time. The no-confidence debate was continued in the evening before fairly full galleries Mid' benches- that at times, were .nearly, empty. JHsing at 7.30. p.m., Mr. E. Xewman (Raugitikei) made a,most effective speech. His criticism', of the' Government's shortcomings'was keen and searching, and ho scored,heavily.in .occasional exchanges viith members on the other side of the House; , ■ ■ The Government were not very, ready in putting np a speaker to reply to.the niemDor for Eangitikoi, and there wero-Oppo-sition cries of'"Vote"! "Vote"! as Mr. Speaker rose to state the -motion before tho House. Tho attitude of the -Reform party was unmistnlceahJe, "While MV. Xewman was still speaking, Mr. Massey had .thrown across the floor a challenge to an immediate division. Eventually tho Hon. J. A. Hanan stepped into tho breach, seemed to be ill-prepared, and his speech, in defence lasted only for forty minutes'.' Mr. Hanan tried hard, to fasten a Tory label to the Reform party, , and - was subjected , to ii fire „of interjections from the Opposition benches. When Mr. Hanan sat down it ngaini appeared possible that the House might go to an immediato division, but after the Speaker had repeated Hie Jio-confideuco amendment, \[r. Laurcnson elected to follow hi.s Ministerial colleague. His speech was very bitter in tone, and Mr. Massey told him frankly that he was lowering the tonp of politics. Mr. Laurcnson made onother of his attacks, on The Dominion. Tho Minister for Labour was interrupted, in his speech by tho supper adjournment. He continued after ten o'clock, addressing half-empty benches, and concluded at ten minute,* to eleven. It was recognised that a critical point had now been reached in the debate. The Government, were-again, left to,put up a'speaker, and were slow to meet tho obligation. As on earlier occasions the Speaker rend Mr. Massey's amendment, but hopes' of an immediato division vanished as Mr. G. W. Forbes, Government Whip for tho South' Island, roso to carry on the debate. Interest flagged at once. Members drifted out until little more than a quorum reitiaiucd. Most of the seats -for strangers on tho floor of tho House were vacated, and tho ladies' gallery also emptied rapidly.

. Mr.' Forbes admitted during his speech that, the Opposition was likely to got on to the Treasury benches, but predicted that their stay there would be short.

After 'some personal explanations by Mr. Massey and Mr. Forbes, the debate was adjourned at tliTeo; minutes before midnight, on the motion of the Prime Minister. '

Tho Legislative Council held an afternoon sitting-, at which the Addrcs'-in-Reply debate was opeued by Sir Win. Steward, and carried on by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan (seconder), the Hon. .T. liigg, and the Hon.'C.'M. Mills. The Council adjourned at "> p.m.