The Chronicle, PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1912. THE CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 February 1912, Page 2

The Chronicle, PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1912. THE CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

The late Premier Soddon, on the night of the General Election of nine years ago, was jubilant, as he epoko from the Zealand Times balcony, "Ladies and gentlemen, ttho country is safe!" was his declamation to a huge concourse on Lambtou quay. I To-day, just- as joyfuliy, we re-echo j hi.s words. That the Liberal Government by one vote han survival tlic No-conlidencc debate, gives us satisfaction, foi , we recognise that after all the unfair fighting during the General Election, and the fire-antl-water alliances of Opposition and Labour, the actual position of the Liberal Party has been made clear. To those unreasonable street corner critics who account for all occurrences by alleging roguery or bribery or purchase, we have nothing to answer; But the thinking man and the unbiased may be fairly invited to ponder the fact that four Independent members out of four, and three Labour members out of four, have seen cause to vole ,for the Government which was so much maligned find detracted, and against which they were set in tlioir election campaigns to a greater or lessor degree. They huvu been at headquarters since tli'-n, and have seen for themselves how matters are situated and in what position the Government's administration actually stands. Let our readers ponder the list: Mr Myers of Auckland and the Rev. Mr jlfiitt of Christenurch, both members of the previous Parliament; Mr Co-ates of Kaipara and Mr Atmorc of Nelson, both new members; and all four returned as Independents. Has the Liberal Administration somo magic power to blind the eyes of men holding eiioL diverse views aa j these four do; or is it that a natural j revulsion of feeling causes them to espouse the oauso of maligned men and a slandered party P "As reganfc the Labour men, we must be brief to-day, owing to exigencies of space, but at least we may ask how could any Labour man not specifically pledged to vote in favour of Mr Masse? do so in the light of the democratic programme brought down in the Governor's Speech this month, and in further view of the clear calls to support the Government vrhich came from their out-and-out supporters in contradistinction to their seoond ballot willy nillies.