THE Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1912 THE PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5775, 28 February 1912, Page 4

THE Bay of Plenty Times WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1912 THE PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

THE greatest event in New Zealand | politics that has occurred within two decades ia now over. Last night in the House of Representatives the vote j wa* taken on Mr Massey's amendment j to the Address-in-Reply, which set out j that the Governor's advisers did not possess the confidence of the House. The voting was thirty-nine each way, and it is worthy of remark that the division list shows that Mr Veitch was the only one. of the four Labor representatives to cast his vote against the Ward Administration. The Speaker (Sir Arthur Guinness) was called upon to exercise his vote, and gave it in support of the party to which he has been so long attached. The result of the division is that the Liberal Government is in a majority, but only a very narrow one. In the present state of political affairs it is hard to forecast the trend that politics will take. There are clear indications, however, that a vigorous Labor policy,*as outlined in the Governor's Speech, will be put forward by the Liberal Cabinet, and that further legislation in favor of the workers will find its way on to the Statute book. For some years there has been a feeling that Sir Joseph Ward had not been pushing Labor legislation as he should. Today there is a different complexion on affairs, and whoever leads the Liberal and Labor compact will be forced to pacify the workers with measures suitable to their palate. The no-confidence motion that has been disposed of leaves i several members free to vote as they choose on future questions that will be brought forward in the House. The Liberals may lose a vote or two, but on the other hand they have Mr Wilford—who is at present away in England—to fall back' upon. Then, the labor legislation will probably rope in Mr Veitch. Altogether, there, is an interesting time ahead of politicians, and our forecast is in the direction that legislation calculated to benefit the workers and small farmers will be passed by the Liberal-cum-Labor Party, which during the last few weeks has been drawn close together by the promises held out in the Governor's Speech.