POLITICAL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3524, 10 July 1920, Page 4

POLITICAL.

VVHERE INDIGPENDENTS STAND.

\VELLING»TON, July 8‘

This week's debate on the no-_confi-dence amendment by‘the Leader Of the Opposition ended this afiernoon with a Governnient majority of 22. compared with a majority of 23 when Labour tried conclusions upon the fir.»-t business day of the session. V The Miiiisfel‘ of Education had :1 right to resume the debate. but remarked tlmf he gathered there was as general wish to come to-a division.‘ The House seemed ready for this? course, but Mr Ci-aigie interpo:-ed with a Brief explanation of his reason. for opposing the motion. He was, he‘? said, independent, and hoped to see‘ more brotherhood and less party feel-. ing in the House. The motion Was? only a continuation of the party quai'rel. ' 1

A laughable incid%nt of the division was that the Hon. Parr wandered into the ayes lobby among’ the supporters of the amendment, but their loud jocularity soon caused the Minister to seek the opposite lobby? in fffnb.

A record of the vote on the correct card division resulted: Ayes 23, Noes 45_ '

The Labour party voted fo; the amendmenf, but Independent Labour'ites—Messrs Veitch, Smith‘, Kellett. also Statham, preferred to keep out of the contest, while Mr Craigie, a.nother Independent, _foH*OW§a the Government.

‘This division paved the way for M 1: Stathanl’s» amendment in ‘favour ‘of the election of Cabinet by members of the House, or at least ‘by members of the dominant party in Parlian§nt. The mover, who spoke from bennci the Leader of the Opposition, said he was among the Liberals, but not one of them. It had not been easy him to break away from party ties and personal friends’. but he believed the time had come when he must sacrifice -old connections and .<r:~i‘~' out for himself if he wished to do any good.