POLITICAL NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10674, 2 July 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

(From tin? Evening Post.)

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

It is impossible, to say 'how long the •debate will 'last, ibut it i« extremely ■improbable thi rib it will be brought'to >;* coniclusio-n in less than two weeks. The Opposition is still confident 'of victory, while the Ministerialists hope .also to be successful. The issue,. it avoir] d appear, .practically depends on tlno altitude cf Mcissro Millar, McKenzie. Ckirk, Ooates, Meed, and possibly Si-tley. Picking the oard is a-n iMi-prc-ii table pDr.timo these days, .but scvGi'i'.'l islir-oivd ok.'3Tve>rs who claim to have applied an 'analytical ■mind to th;> burlncs*, still assert-tf.-irt- Vic C,ppco>x.'ii swijj |:-:ci:re: a vo: G of 42. '. : •■

NO CAUCUS YET.

So far the Government has not contemplated the calling of ;>, caucus of the party, the idea appearing to be that the pledge given at the conference held during the short session, in Maxell to support .whoever was seteoted to lead the party still Holds good.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.

The term of oflice of tho Acting High Ccim/mitTtsioner .(Mir Fhllker) • has been extended for a month. Rumour is busy /Wiith tbc<. names of aspirants .to the .position, >but it is evident that no definite steps can now be taken- Until the .result t!f" the firat division) at least is announced.

; THE i FUTURE.

It isi interesting to note, ris the result of conversations with prominentpoliticians on both aides of politics, tliat neither side professes confidence in tlie futuire that litis beyond the confines cif the first division. The Opposition, while (professing even ranee as to the iresult c'f the division on the No-confidence motion, have I'itrMe to say as to what may happen afterwards. If they win, tihey can only 'win by a small majority, and, as their 'numbers only total 38, they must necersnri'ly rely on recruits from erstwhile Ministerial ranks. To establish political stability f:urtlu'r reoruits will "be required. Can. they get them P The Government is in the same position. Supposing it wins on the ..first division-. It cam only wim iby the •smallest i"*f nuargiins. "What''wil happen then? To oarry on the 'Government of a" .country with sv ,«.maM majority will be a dii.ffi.cult matter. These are the question _• that are being discussed iin every conner of the lobbies, in every room where two or three legislators, are gathered together. No. one knows; not one .legislator, private- member or the /holder of a portfolio k> confident one way or the <V-bstr—with the exception that tne Opposition hold up their thirty-eight total as a .solid [phalanx which, they declare nothing can t'hiake, 'while the Goivernment ranks are know'm to coJtadn isome malcontents.

POWERS OF THE PRESS

The ' Legislature Act Amendment Bill, of which Mr A. H. Hindmarsh lias given notice, has been drafted with a view to inaroducing in this country a principle recently applied by statute law in the Commonwealth of Australia. This, in brief, is that during the progress of an election all political articles'nublished in the press and bearing on the contest must be signed with -lie name of the writer. It will be remembered that a few days ago six proprietors of the Melbourne Argus were each fined 20s and £6 6s costs for defying the law . The Argus proprietary is appealing against the decision to the High Court of Australia.