BY TWO VOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 182, 4 August 1939, Page 7

BY TWO VOTES.

GOVERNMENT FALLS.

Climax To Party Differences In New South Wales.

MR. STEVENS RESIGNS

United I'rcss Association.—Copyright

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In the Legislative Assembly yesterday afternoon Ihe Stevens Government was defeated by 4:! votes to 41 on the motion by Mr. K. S. Npooner, which the Premier, Mr. B. S. .Stevens, treated ay one of censure.

The House immediately- adjourned until Tuesday to enable the Government to consider the position.

Mr. Stevens called on the Governor. Lord YVakehurst. last night and discussed the crisis. He tendered certain advice, lmt no decision was reached, and Mr. Stevens decided to have a further interview with his K.xcellencv to-dav.

However. the Premier suddenly changed his plans and saw the Governor again last night, when he tendered his Ministry's rcsignat ion.

At the Governor's request Mr. Stevens will carry on for the next few days.

Ten member* of the I'nited Australia party, otherwise <m>\ eminent supporters, crossed the floor, and one Independent also voted for the motion.

The (Jovcrnmeiit's defeat was cheered even in the galleries. which were crowded out. and a la rye crowd outside also cheered. It was quite evident that the Premier is not politically popular in certain quarters. Mr. Stevens himself was nonplussed by the vital verdict, and left the Chamber dispiritedly.

The tenor of yesterday's debate was acrimonious, several Government supporters indulging in biting criticism of the Premier's dictatoral methods.

The "Sydney Morning Herald" says the hostility between the leader of the Country party, Mr. M. F. Bruxner, and Mr. Spooner militates against the latter's chances of securing leadership, and Mr. A. Mair, the Treasurer, is considered to have a reasonable chance of defeating Mr. Spooner.

The state of the parties in tile Xew South Wales Legislative Assembly is ;is follows: I'nited Australia party, ;}.">: Australian Labour party, 28; L'nited (ount'.y party, 22: Industrial Labour Party, 4; Independent, 1.

The defeat of the Government is the culmination of a dispute between Mr. Spooner, former Minister of Public Works, and the Premier, which has been icoinu on for some weeks. If originated in the efforts of Mr. Stevens to restrict the activities of Mr. Spooner in connection with relief works and to transfer the control to a sub-corn mi tree. A heated party meeting disclosed that Mr. Spooner had many supporters. It also revealed a threat to Mr. Spooner to challenge Mr. Stevens for the Premiership.