SHORT-LIVED MINISTRY

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 303, 21 December 1921, Page 5

SHORT-LIVED MINISTRY

FORMED BY SIR GEO. FULLER. RESIGNS SAME DAY, DISSOLUTION REFUSED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—CopjTlent.J 5 ..;«■.; (Received 10.30 a.ai.i SYDNEY, this day. Sir Ueo. Fuller, the Nationalist formed a coalition Cabinet to-day, but resigned in the evening. Before resigning lie requested a dissolution, but the Governor declined, and sent for Mr John Dooley. the ex-Premier, who is commissioned to reform a government. It is understood that it will consist of the same Ministry as before. Sir Goo. Fuller was not defeated on division, but anticipating defeat resigned when the Assembly met after the Governor refused to accede to his request for a dissolution. — (A. and N.Z.) A TWO MONTHS' RECESS. DISRUPTION OF PROGRESSIVES ißeeeivetl 12.30 p.m.l SYDNEY, this day. With I lie re-establishment of the Dooley Government on the Treasury benches the Speakership question again j commanded attention. When the House j of Assembly met on Tuesday Mr. Hickey's resignation was read by the clerk, whereupon Sir Gco. Fuller invited | volunteers for the chair. Mr. Bagnall, secretary of the Nationalist party, volunteered as a protest against the coalition of Nationalists and Progressives, | stating that he would not associate himself with the latter, who assassinated ; the Nationalist party at the elections. I Mr. Bagnall received no nomination, but j the incident has an important bearing | on the future life of Parliament, as Mr. i D. Levy, though offering to accept the j Speakoiship only to extricate Parlia- j ment from an impasse, may now remain j in the chair to keep Mr. Bagnail out. j Such ait ion would be an advantage \ rather than a disadvantage to the Opposition. Thr Labour party emerges j from the re-shuffling the least damaged, j its solidarity being unimpaired, while the Progressives are seemingly disrupted. Seven members of the latter r refused to meet the rest of the party | last, night, and nassed a resolution that the Progressive party was still a separate entity in fact as well as in name. Mr. Doolev meets the House to-day, after which a prorogation of two months is likely.—(A.* and X.Z. Cable.)