NO CONFIDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 9

NO CONFIDENCE.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

DEBATE OPENS TO-NIGHT.

MR. SAVAGE TO-MORROW.

(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

The real business of the session ot Parliament will begin to-night, when the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government, Wairarapa) will move a formal motion that a respectful address be presented to the Governor-General in reply to the speech from the Throne. This will bo seconded by Mr. F. Lye (Government, Waikato). At the conclusion of these addresses the House will adjourn until to-morrow afternoon, when the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Savage, will move the amendment of which he has given notice: "In conclusion we deem it our duty to represent to your' Excellency that your Excellency's advisers do not possess the confidence of this House."

There is more behind this no-confidence motion than meets the eye. There have been certain defections from the ranks of the Coalition as tho Parliament has progressed and Labour is anxious to make sure at a critical time of where the Government stands in relation to those who occupy seats in the House of Representatives. A straightout amendment to the Address-in-Reply will allow a definite dividing line to be drawn. There are some members who professed independence in previous sessions, but have been exceedingly quiet of late, and the no-confidence debate may draw them into a clear exposition of where they stand before the general election.

There will be full galleries to hear the opening of the debate and full galleries are assured for several nights following to hear the Labour attack, and the rejoinder, which will be opened by Sir Alfred Ransom, Minister of Lands, who will speak immediately after Mr. Savage. Sir Alfred may be relied upon to deal at length with Labour's promises to the man on the land, with special reference to guaranteed prices. Although the noconfidence motion is bound to fail, the division list will be of considerable interest.