NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1013, 29 February 1912, Page 3

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

VICTORY FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

ON CASTING VOTE OF THE SPEAKER.

The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Veitch, the new member for Wanganui, said he had not been greatly impressed with Parliament. He dealt with the evils arising from land and commercial monopolies, and said that he regretted that a Commercial Monopolies Act had not been put into operation. Sir Joseph Ward : It has. Mr Veitch; I am glad to learn that is so, and I hope whichever paity comes into power it will promptly and sincerely take the Act up and deal with commercial monopolies. On resuming at 7.30 p.m., Mr Robertson (Otaki) said he desired to make hits position clear in regard to his pledges. He denied giving a pledge to those simply opposed to the Government. He had said he would assist to overthrow the Administration, but had stated he was just as strongly opposed to the Massey party. The No-confidence motion was not simply to turn out the Ward Government, but to put Mr Massey in power. Ho would never assist in doing this. He chose to break the letter and keep the spirit of his pledge. Mr Atmore (Nelson) followed, and at 11.55 o’clock the division bell was rung, and the division taken on the stroke of midnight. Mr Atmore was the chief figure, as he walked with Sir Joseph Ward Into the Government lobby. Following is the division list on Mr Massey’s amendment; — Government. Opposition. Brown J. Allen Buddo Anderson Buxton Bell Can oil J. Bollard Clark R. F. Bollard Colvin Bradney Craigie Buick Davey Buchanan Dickie Campbell Ell Dickson Forbes Escott Glover Fisher Hanan W. Fraser Eaurenson Guthrie M’Callum Harris Macdonald Herdman R. M’Kenzie Herries T. Mackenzie Hine Millar Hunter Myers Lang Poland Eee Reed Malcolm Russell Mander Seddon Massey Sidey Dr. Newman R. W. Smith E. Newman J. C. Thompson Noswortby Ward Okey Witty Pearce Atmore Rhodes Isitt Scott Rhodes F. H. Smith Coates Stratham Parata Sykes Ngata G. M. Thomson Rangihiroa Wilson Payne Young Hindmarsh Pomare Robertson Veitch The no-confidence division therefore resulted : Ward ... 40 Massey ... 39 After the division, Mr Massey congratulated Sir Joseph Ward, and said that it had been a good fight. He added that next time a division was taken it would not be won on the casting vote of the Speaker. The Premier thanked Mr Massey for his congratulations, and said that the country “would never regret having been rescued from the claws of the vultures.” The House adjourned at 12.15, until to-day at 2.30 p.m.