TE KUITI DEBATING SOCIETY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 484, 20 July 1912, Page 5

TE KUITI DEBATING SOCIETY.

The usual weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Union under the . auspices of the Te Kuiti Debating Society was held at the Municipal Hall on Thursday evening. There was a good attendance and an excellent debate the Land Settlement Bill, introdtured by the Minister for Lands (Hon. H. A. Ellison) ensued. The Bill w as criticised in a searching manner by the occupants of the Opposition benches, Messrs Lusk, Martin, and Alexander, while the stormy petrel of the House, Mr E. H. Hardy, failed to see virtue in the financial provisions for carrying out the settlement proposals. The Labourites contented themselves with attempting to damn the Bill with faint praise, and eventually voted for it. The Minister made a spirited reply to the critics, concluding with a statesmanlike appeal to the patriotism of the members generally, and the Bill was passed on the voices. The Abitration Act Amendment Act, introduced by the Minister for liabour, Mr A. F. Howarth, also produced a good debate, and an amendment to the opening clause which was taken as a no-confidence motion was moved by the Labour leader, Mr J. H. Trinnear. Messrs Arrowsmith, Younf Turner, Langston supDorted the amendment. The Bill was supported by Messrs Walsh and Moorhouse, while the Opposition members also accorded it support. The division was taken amid considerable excitement, and the voting was equal. The casting vote of the Speaker was in favour of the Government which therefore retained office.

A caucus of the members comprising the GovernnieLt and Opposition parties was held subsequently and the framing of a coalition Cabinet was placed in the hands of Mr Ellison, who will meet the House on Thursday next as Prime Minister. No official announcement has yet been made, but it is understood the new Ministry will be as follows: H. A. Ellison, Prime Minister, Lands, and Stamp Duties; J. Steel, Railways and Native Affairs; N. B. Lusk, Labour and Customs ; R. M. Somecville-Agriculture and Marine; J. B. Sharpies, Attorney-General; E. H. Hardy; Finance and Public Works; J. F. Walsh, Education and Defence; P. Fls-yd, Internal Affairs; R. B. Webber, Public Health, Hospitals and Charitable Aid, without salary.