PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1897, 31 October 1918, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION LOST. In the House on Tuesday night the following amendment of noeonlidenee in the Government was moved by Mr Hirulmarsh, and seconded by Mr M’Corahs: — “Wo feel it is our duty, however, to submit (o your Excellency that, in the opinion 1 of this House, your Advisers have lamentably failed to deal effectively with the evil of profiteering and (ho problem-of the cost of living, notwithstanding that one of the most distinct understandings made when the National Government was formed on 4(h August, 1915, was that (Ids problem would be dealt with. The very grave diseon (out already in existence by reason of this failure, and other matters, has been accentuated by the action of Parliament in extending its own life beyond the period for which the people elected it, thus depriving the people of the power to remedy the wrongs they complain of. This situation, we submit, is directly traceable to the influence of powerful vested interests in conflict with the interests of the community; and we, therefore, urge that a general election take place early in the coming year,” The amendment was lost by 12 to 48. The following members voted for the amendment: —Dr. Thacker, Messrs Witty, Payne, Poole, Veiteh, Hindmarsh, P. Fraser, Brown, V\ alker, Holland, S. G. Smith, and APConibs. Replying to a question by Mr G. H. Smith (Pahiatua), the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward) slated that he did not anticipate (hat a further loan would be required till tbe end of March, possibly the end of April in next year. What had already been arranged for would carry (hem oirunlil that lime. In the meantime people wishing to invest could apply to the Treasury. One veteran politician, who believes that he has a definite knowledge of attitudes, slates lliat Mr Massey has a personal following of 29 (including himself). He declares that there arc 35 members who will vote on questions on (heir merits, provided that the issue is not made one of no-eonlidenec. Of course, this total of 35 includes a number eager to vote against the Government at every suitable opportunity. Air W. H. Field (Otaki) lias given notice to ask the Minister of Defence “Whether it is true that New Zealand soldiers who have served three years and upwards at the scat of war, and who have been granted six weeks’ furlough in tiic Dominion prior to again returning to the front, are not allowed a short extension of their leave except upon (ho terms that it s’hall he without pay; and whether (he country could not afford to- treat with more generosity these defenders of the Empire who have borne tlic stress of war for so manv years?”