JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1920, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

FINANCIAL WARNING WELLINGTON, Jupe 25. I The chief business of Parliament foi day was to hear the Governor's Speech, f Members listened with more than usual attention to the passages relating to finance, and they evidenly were impressed by the note of warning that the speech sounded. The warning related to finance and indicated clearly toat Ministers regard the situation with a certain amount of anxiety. The tone of tlie Speech gave no encouragement to the demands for increased expenditure during the present session. The House met after the formal . proceedings were ended, and Mr Hockley (Rotorua) gave notice to move the 1 Address-in-Reply. j WANT OF CONFIDENCE. Then the Leader of the Opposition (Mr MacDonald) produced a surprise in file form of a want of confidence motion, that he gave notice to move ns an addition to the Address-in-Reply “That we feel it is our duty to submit to Your Excellency that it is essential that your Excellency’s Government should possess the confidence of this House, and the country and we respectfully represent to your Excellency rliat such confidence is not reposed in the Government as at present constituted.!’

Mr MacDonald, with fewer than twenty members behind him cannot hope to carry his motion but his action is not without reason. If ho had not moved the want of confidence,' the Labour Party would have done it, and the official opposition 'might have been placed in a quandary. Mr Holland may still move after the Liberal motion is disposed, of but the Liberal leader has secured precedence. It was obvious that some of the Liberals were startled by their leader’s action, which may require them either to vote with the Government against their party, or vote with Labour against the Government. Developments will be watched with interest. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE.

Another proponed amendment' to the Address-1 n-Replv came from Mr Statham (Dunedin Central) who left the Reform party to become an Independent last year and is now sitting on back opposition benches. Mr Statham gave notice of an amendment to the effect that the Government ought to be elected by the House or at least by the members of the dominant part of the House. This attempt to esenre consideration for the elective executive will not interest members much. Even a new Parliament is not easily persuaded to discuss abstract questions. Notices of question and of motion

occupied the House for half an hour. LABOUR MEM J-'HRS BILLS. Before the adjournment the Labour members gave notice of various bills relating to industrial matters and presented questions regarding the housing problem. They want lots of things done at once. An echo of the election came from the Liberal benches, where members produced a question regarding the reform of the electoral system. A MISSING £I.OOO. Mr. Holland asked if the Minister in charge of the Public Trust ' Office would give orders that open cheques should not be issued by the office. He said ho-, was a trustee for ( the O’Connor Trust, and another trustee who had been Mayor of TVestnort had received a cheque from the Public Trust. Now the Mayor and the £IOOO were missing. Hon. J. G.- Contes said he had no information oil the point, and he would inquire. The Houise; adjourned ujntil Tuesday.