POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 26 July 1915, Page 7

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

THE NATIONAL CABINET >'AT A VERY INTERESTING,STACE." A meeting of tho Government Party, described in tlie statement raado by the •Prime Minister afterwards as ono of the most important and-one of the most satisfactory in the- history of the party, twas held on Saturday morning. The . Cabinet proposals were fully discussed, and the official report of the meeting was to tho effect that the party had expressed complete confidence in the Prime Minister, arid had given liim plenary powers in regard to the negotiations with the Leader of the Opposition with, the object; of forming a. National, Government. The members ipledged themselves to , abido by tho de- ' cision of their leader. , • Mr.' Massey declined 'to supplement 'this statement in any way. _ He aid say, however, that the negotiations were at a very; interesting staged ( THE DAYLIGHT SAVINC BILLY The .interest created by Mr". Sidey's 'little Bill .in the long sitting of Thurs<3ay night arid Friday morning has entirely subsided'. V The general opinion is that the Bill, even in its amended form, ia's no chance of becoming law. It may Iho read a third time in the House, but wen the supporters of - Bill have little liopo that tho Legislative Council ; will .agree to; it. In any case, if the (Bill in its present shape were to become law, it would have force or tefTect. There is no penal clause in it, no direction as to who shall tamper with the clocks, and anybody who chooses to '.do so may order his day and his work :by sun time as now. Tho passing of tho 'Bill -\yill do no more than affirm the desirability of giving tho scheme a trial. 1 ; IJQUOR IN BELLAMY'S? \ For the first time in twelve years a 'poll/will .be taken to-morrow on the - question of whethor or not the sale of alcoholic liquors shall be • continued in (Bellamy's..- Tho Legislature Act pro•vides that a poll on this question shall -jbe taken, on the fourth Tuesday after .the close of; the debate on .the Address-im-Roply in tho first session of every Hew Parliament. ; It haa happened that ■the first session of the last Parliaments has been so short that the House has never sat until the fourth .Tuesday after the end of the debate on the Address-iii-Reply,. arid polls havo not been, taken., ; The last poll was taken on 'August ■'12, 1903, when the retention' of alco'Jiolic liquor'was carried by 76 .votes to 81. Tfca details of voting wero as follow;:—Legislative Council: /Ayes, 34; : noes, 4; House, of Representatives: :!Ayes,' 42; noes, 27. The poll before . that was taken on July 25, 1900, when ; the voting was as follows Legislative 'Council: Ayes, 29: noes, 6; House of : Representatives: Ayes, 37; noes, 26. tt'otals: Ayes, 66; noes, 32.