THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 8, 1912. THE GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10680, 8 July 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JULY 8, 1912. THE GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

'The 'announcement made in. the Age on Saturday morning, that the fate of the iGovfiinmvnt had been scaled, was borne out by subsequent events.. At ten minutes to five o'clock, after a series of valedictory, explanatory, 'and .acrimonious speeches by supporter, a of the Gownnnent., a division was taken, which resulted in the- defeat of the .(.iovernmcnt by eight votes. Five gentlemen who. had .previously supported 'the Government— Messrs J. A. Millar, E. H. Clark, Vernon Reed, 'Co.vtes, and T. W. Rhodes— voted I \vith the Opposition, and. so the short I hut merry life of the Mackenzie M:ti- | istry has been ended. It must 'lv |-said of the Prime Minister 'that he [ took his defeat in a, philosophic man- ; nor, and the speech lie made befo'-e 'the fateful division was taken w ;s worthy of a man who knows when he and Sir Joseph Ward roy? ito the occasion., and created profound sympathy by the dignity 'of their expressions. 'The Leader of the 'Opposition., (too, 'who .will now become P.rime Minister, must be warmly commended -upon tiro magnanimity lie and his ipartv displayed throughout the exciting iperiod. There was not th:setmiblance of a demonstration, not a •trace of enthusiasm .from first to last. The whob atmosphere was diarged 'with that serious spirit of c.on temp la ■ tiara and sympathy which is met with only «n occasions of great cris.es. A 'crisis has undoubtedly arrived in the 'history of New Zealand. A Parti* which hasoccupied' the Treasury for a .period of twenty-one •ye;ir», n;nd around which permanent 'associations have grown up, has" suddenly been relegated to obscurity, and 'the imen who, with relentless persistence, have fought the cause of political reform, have had cast. upon, them 'the joys and .responsibilities of office I Whilst Mir iMassey is to he heartily congratulated mpan Wiving, after years of ifigjhting, attained tilie summit of his I ambitions', 'lie will have the sympathy | of a large -section of the coiwmum\v in the task which lias fallen upon him I of cleaning out the Augean stable. The first- point ifao 'he considered is whether lie lias a sufficient majority to enable him to 'carry through a, progressive 'Liberal programme. The addition to !iia ranks df Messrs (Reed, Coates, and T. W. Rhodes gives liim an absolute Vnajority (of two votes in the House, while the easting vote of the Speaker, 'should it ever be exercised, will, according to precedent, go with the pat-

ty in power. It is fair to assume, however, that Mr Massey will be given a reasonable* opportunity of bringing 'down progressive legislation. Indeed, it will probably he found that there will be a considerable accession: to 'the ranks of Mr Maasey's party as soon a,s his policy is announced. In 'the .meantime it will he the duty of the Premier-elect io form a Ministry ! 'which will he representative of the best .interests rf the whole Dominion. Hiis task in this connection will not 'be difficult, for he 'has an exceedingly <voio following -upon which to draw. We have not .tk> slightest dow'bt that, 'with a strong Ministry, a bold, progressive policy, and .a ■continuation of the process of amalgamating the moderate sections of the House, which has already .commenced, Mr Massey will be alble to retain the reins of office .for many years, and to place upon the .Statute- Book legislation which will make for the -permanent welfare of a-I'l sections of the community.