WANT OF CONFIDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1920, Page 5

WANT OF CONFIDENCE.

A MOTION IN PARLIAMENT. OPPOSITION LEADER'S REASON, (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. MaeDonald) produced a surprise in the form of a want of confidence motion. He gave notice to move as an addition to the Address-in-Reply: "That we feel it is our duty to submit to your Excellency that it is essential that your Government should possess the confidence of, thi9 House and the country, and we respectfully represent to your Excellency that such confidence is not reposed in the Government as at present constituted." Mr MaeDonald, with fewdr than twenty members behind him, cannot hope to carry his motion, hut his action is not without reason. If he had not moved a want of confidence motion the „ Labor Party would have done it, and the official Opposition might have been placed in a quandary. e Mr. Holland may stijl move after the Liberal motion is disposed of, but the Liberal leader has secured, precedence. It was obvious that some of the Liberals were startled by their Leader's action, which may require them either to vote with the Government against their Party or vote with Labor against the Government- Developments will be watched with interest. Another proposed'amendment to the Address-in-Reply came from Mr. Statham (Dunedin Central), who left th« Reform Party to become an Independent last year, and is now sitting on the back Opposition benches. Mr. Statham gave notice of an amendment to the effect "that the Government ought to be elected by the House, or at least by the members of the dominant Party in the House." This attempt to secure consideration for the elective executive will not interest members much; even a new Parliament is not easily persuaded to discuss abstract questions. Before the adjournment the Labor members gave notice of various Bills relating to industrial matters, and they presented questions regarding the housing problem. They want lots of things done at once. An echo of the election came from the Liberal benches, where members produced questions regarding' the reform of the electoral system.