SUPPLY BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1920, Page 5

SUPPLY BILL.

GRANT FOR SOLDIERS. LABOR AMENDMENT DEFEATED. AN INTERESTING DIVISION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House* of Representatives this afternoon an Imprest Supply Bill, approximating £3,063,500, was brought down by Governor's message. The amount includes £OOO,OOO on account of Nauru and Ocean Islands, and £500,000 on account of soldier settlement. Mr. A. S. Malcolm was appointed chairman of the committee pro tem. On the Speaker putting the motion to go into committee of supply, Mr. H. 11. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party) moved an amendment expressing the House's disapproval of tie Government's failure £6 provide proportional representation, to deal with the 'high cost of living, to provide houses and coal for the people, and to carry out necessary public works. Mr. Holland briefly enlarged upon the need for electoral reform so as to give the people representation in accordance with the way they voted. He also stressed the need for dealing in a proper manner with the immigration question, instancing eases in which families arrived, without money and became a charge upon the public funds. He also urged that with proper treatment for miners and equipment of mines plenty of coal could be obtained. Mr. Holland declared that the mines were understaffed, and the men could easily be obtained. Mr. MeCombs seconded the motion. He complimented the mover on the specific indictment made by Mr. Holland against the Government. The amendment was defeated by 39 votes to Ifl. The Bill was put through all stages without amendment, the Premier claiming it as a matter of urgency. Following is the division list on Mr. Holland's amendment:— Por the amendment (16): Atmore, Bartram, Eraser, Holland, Howard, MeCombs, Masters, Parry, Poland, Savage, Seddon, Sidey, S. G. Smith, Sullivan, Thacker, Vcitch. Against the amendment (39): Anderson, Bi'tchener, Bollard, Burnett, Coates, Craigie, J. M. Dickson, field, Glenn, Guthrie, J. R. Hamilton, Harris, Herries, Hockley, Hudson, Hunter, Jones, Lee, Luke, Lysnar, McCallum, McLeod, Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Mitchell, Nash, A. K. Newman, E. Newman, Nosworthv, Pair, Potter, Reed, T. W. Rhodes,* Statham, Sykes, Uru, Wright, Young. The Legislative Council resumed at 8 p.m., passed the Imprest Supply Bill, and adjourned at 8.5 p.m. EAGER FOR A DIVISION. LIBERAL LEADER DOES NOT VOTE ACTION OP INDEPENDENTS. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. The first division of the sessiou was called unexpectedly on a no-confidence amendment by the chairman of the Labor Party (Mr. Holland) on the motion to go into committee on the Imprest Supply Bill. So eager was the mover not to lose his opportunity to move his amendment that he rose twice at the wrong time to offer it, but Mr. Speaker advised him that the right time to do it was later. The motion before the House was: "That Mr. Speaker do leave the chair in order that the House may go into committee of ways and means," . Mr. Holland moved: That all words after "that" be omitted, with a view of inserting the following: "That this House expresses its disapproval (1) of the failure of the Government to make adequate provision for the full representation of the people by a system of proportional representation; (2) of' the failure of the Government to effectively combat the high cost of living; (3) of the failure of the Government to provide homes for the people; (4) of the failure of the Government to secure adequate coal and other fuel supplies; (5) of the failure of the Government to proceed with the necessary public works." Mr. Holland made a short speech in I support of his amendment —shorter even j than the time limit imposed. Most of the matter that he used he lad already spoken on other occasions. Mr. MeCombs seconded the amendment, and made no speech. The division was taken at once. There was a good deal of perturbation (and much interest in the division. A number of members of the Liberal Opposition, including Mr. Mac Donald, left the Chamber when the bells began to ring, preferring this course to that of following either the Prime Minister or the leader of the Labor Party into the division lobby. The actions of the Independent members were watched with keen interest from the Government benches and from the galleries. Colonel Mitchell appeared to be about the last member in the House to make up his mind as to how he should vote and he spoke hurriedly with several members sitting near him. At length he followed Mr Statham and Mr. Craigie into the "Ayes" lobby, voting with the Government^ When the division had been taken and the figures announced, Mr, Mac Donald came back into the Chamber. He was greeted by Mr. Holland with ironical applause and the Leader of the Labor Party said, clapping his hands gently the while, "He that fights and runs away." Other members who voted with the Government were Messrs. McCallum and Lysnar, Mr. McCallum being a member of the Opposition Party, and Mr. Lysnar an Independent.