CONFIDENCE TEST

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 15 October 1942, Page 5

CONFIDENCE TEST

OPPOSITION PLAN INTEREST IN SESSION PENDING LEGISLATION (S.R‘.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Opposition intends moving the following no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives: “That having regard to the handling of certain questions and the effect on the country and the war effort; this House has no confidence in the Government.” The motion will probably be discussed in the House on Thursday night. Apart from the interest in the Opposition move for a vote of no-confidence in the Government, curiosity has been piqued as to whether the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, will take the opportunity oi dealing with “another matter” to which he made reference when he announced the decision of the Opposition caucus to withdraw its representatives from the War Administration and the War Cabinet. Mn his statement on that occasion dealing with the handling of the Waikato coal strike, Mr. Holland said: “I regret that there has not been a lack of friction and, at a suitable time, I will refer to another matter which has influenced me in the decision now reached.”

Since then there has been some speculation on the subject matter of Mr. Holland’s reference. The other matter is said to be a statement which Mr. Holland proposed to issue, tout Which was not released to the press for publication. It is understood this statement related to Mr. Holland’s responsibilities as Minister in charge of war expenditure, and that it contained an announcement of a decision ;by him to appoint two committees with a’ view to achieving greater effici;6ncy Und economy in the expenditure of money for war purposes. Statement Not Yet Published

The usual procedure followed in connection with a Ministerial statement touching on any phase of the war or the war effort is for them not only to be shown to the director of publicity but also to the Prime Minister. It is understood that, on this occasion, Mr. Holland’s statement was shown! to the Prime Minister, tout that as I he Was about to leave for the United States it was suggested it should be discussed with the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. From what can be gathered, it appeals • that exception was taken to the statement by other,[ members of the War Cabinet on trie ground of the Statement being unfair to them. What transpired after that is not known, but 1 the fact remains that the statement has not yet been published. , Arrangements for the allocation of front-bench Opposition seats in the House have been made. Mr: W.- J. Poison will' take the place of the Hon. A. Hamilton, who formerly sat in the same seat as the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Hamilton will move into another front seat in place oSir l Alfred Ransom, who moves into a front-bench seat vacated by Mr. H S.. S. Kyle, who is going into a cross bench; with Mr. J. A. Lee, while the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates retains his old front-bench place. * The Finance Bill to toe introduced in the House to-day includes among a number of machinery clauses provision for the payment from the social security fund of portion of the fees in respect of specialist medical services. Other Government measures to be introduced are three washing-up -bills relating to land, native affairs and Ideal bodies, a Medical Advertisements Bill, and a Women Jurors Bill.