THE GOVERNMENT ASSAILED.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1917, Page 6

THE GOVERNMENT ASSAILED.

BY LABOR MEMBERS. Bv Wire—Parliamentary Correspondent. Wellington.. July 11. The Address-in-Reply debate waa given ii new turn by Mr. McCombs, who moved an amendment dealing with the reinforcements amounting to a vote of no confidence. The Labor members are a very weak group, hut they have the right and ability to force an issue before >he House, and' Mr| McCombs suggested a reduction of reinforcements. Mr. Hindmarsh supported in a characteristic speech. "Let lis be honest," he said; "let us admit that we are a body of elderly gentlemen who make other men go to war and who refuse to make any sacrifices ourselves when our property is concerned." He proceeded . to talk of war profits and the cost of livfng. The House does not take its Labor members very seriously, and is confirmed in,its attitude by the unrestrained .tone of many of the speeches coming from the Labor group. i Mr. Payne was the next speaker. He demanded cessation of reinforcement drafts, the removal of the National Government, an early general election, an independent auditory of public accounts and a few other reforms of the kind he favored. He spoke to a row of empty benches. The debate was adjourned on the motion of a Government member. Ap--parently Sir Joseph Ward did not care to accept a division during the absence ol Mr. Massey, who is away from .Wellington till Friday.