PREMIER BENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3061, 4 December 1908, Page 5

PREMIER BENT.

CABLE NEWS.

United Press Association —By Klectric Telegraph Copyright.

HIS GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED. VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE MOVED. BY THE COUNTRY PARTY. Received December 3, 10.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, December 3. •Mr Murray, a member of the Country party, has, in the State Legislative Assembly, moved a direct vote of want of confidence in the Government. The Country party has decided not to support Mr Cameron's motion, but to take separate action. The Leader of the Labour party Mr Prendergast, intimates that Mr Murray's motion has his assent. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. CHARGES OF .CORRUPTION. A ONE-MAN GOVERNMENT. "WEAK, VACILLATING, EXTRAVAGANT." Received December 3, 10.55 p.m. MELBOURNE, December 3. When Mr Murray moved his want of confidence motion he said his charge against the Government was that it had done nothing according to fixed principles, and that ever since Mr Bent's advent it had become more and more a one-man Government. He declared that Mr Bent was weak, vacillating and extravagant, and had outlived his usefulness as leader of the Government. Mr Watt charged Mr Bent with making a false statement in denying that he purchased land along the St. Kilda tramway route, and said the Premier misled Parliament by stating that he had no land along the route, then securing the passage of a Bill which placed thousands of pounds into Mr Bent's pockets. Mr Bent characterised Mr Watt's statement as untrue, and said the route he proposed for the line was not adopted, the present route taking its place. A syndicate of ten, including himself, had purchased the land at auction, and he bought it because it was not on the route, and had made no secret of his purchase.

THE MOTION CARRIED.

Received December 4, 12.45 a.m. MELBOURNE, December 3. Mr Murray's censure motion vfas carried by 37 votes to 25.