The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, JANUARY 14th, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, JANUARY 14th, 1921.

VOXK OF NO-CONTI 1 >KNCK. Although the Mouse of Common,s has assembled, elected a Speaker, mid proceeded with tin? lengthy task of “swearing in” tho Old members, I’arliannnit ha* not licou formally “opened.” That is a task usually discharged hy the Kin*;, who delivers the Speech from the Throne. That utterance is really the Cabinet's general declaration of policy, and the conflicting views of the present administration is shown by the fact that even when the House assembled, it had not completed its draft of the speech. Technically, the Cabinet aro “bis Majesty's servants,” and they are supposed to possess the confidence of I‘arliamcnt, till Parliament itself shows that they have lost it by outvoting them. The British Parliament knows nothing of the procedure followed in France where the Premier frequently asks for a “vote of confidence.” At Westminster, tile Government assuire.s that it has that confidence until shown otherwise. The initiative in showing that a Ministry does not possess the confidence of the elected Chamber comes, or is supposed ito come, from the Home itself ami not from the. Ministry. .During the course of the

next week or two ] eople interested in British Parliamentary methods will have them illustrated in att interesting manner. Tho recent elections robbed the Government of its majority. The Consrvatives remain the largest party in the House, hut without Liberal aid they cannot carry on, and Air Asquith’s j speech has made it plain that that aid will not he forthcoming. The Government will outline its policy in the King’s Speech and then will come the test. Probably an amendment will he moved to the Address-in-Reply to the effect that his Majesty's advisers do not possess the confidence of the House. Tin* dieision on such a motion w ill be the most important, the most momentous, taken for many years, for it may bring into office the first Labour Government in Britain. The methods followed on either side of the Knglish

Channel are, to a certain extent typical of the two nations. In France the Government carries on because the ChamW continually expresses confidence in it. In Britain it holds office until a vote of no-oonlidcnre is carried. Should Die approaching division in the House of Commons result in the defeat of the Conservative Ministry, the Prime Minister will inform the King that he no longer possesses the confidence of the Legislature and ask permission to resign his office. It is understood that the King’s chief adviser mentions the name of the man who should lie summoned to form a Cahinet, but there

is no law on the matter. As with .so much in the British Constitution, it is largely a matter of precedent.