PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 444, 2 March 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

THE MOTION DEBATED. LABOUR VOTES GOVERNMENT. The prorogation of Parliament was proposed by the Prime Minister on Thursday afternoon. A vigorous protest was made by the leader of the Opposition to the suggestion that this action should bo taken before the promised reconstruction of the Cabinet had been effected, and the new Ministry had presented itself to the House. Mr Massey declared that the Government party had secured a majority only by the Prime Minister's pledge that the present Ministry would resign. At 4.30 p.m the Prime Minister said that he desired to muve that the House should adjourn. The business on the Order Paper waa completed. | Mr Massey: I would like to ask ths right lion, gentleman what it intended? When will he ask the House to meet again? Thiß afternoon, tomorrow morning, or when? The Prime Minister Baid he intended to ask the Governor to prorogue Parliament from now for a month, and then in the ordinary way till June. Mr Massey: Then you are now proposing prorogation. Sir Joseph Ward assented. Mr Massey protested strongly against the adjournment of the House until it was known what the personnel of the Cabinet would be. He moved an amendment in the direction of adjourning till Monday in order that the House might be informed of the changes proposed to be made in his Excellency's advisers. The motion waß debated at length. When the division was called it was seen that the Government had 40 votes againßt 38 for Mr Massey. The Labour members all voted for the Government. Sir Joseph Ward, in explaining the course proposed to be adopted, said that he was not going to take the leader of the Opposition into his confidence. His duty was to the country, to the party, and to all sections of that party which supported the Government. He would take the earliest opportunity of meeting them, and within a short period from now, a week may be, or two, or maybe more, he would make a recommendation to his Excellency the Governor as to to alteration that was to be made, and the new Ministry would meet the House iri June next. He believed it would be strong enough to deal with any matters that might come up.