MOTION OF ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY SIR J. WARD.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5776, 1 March 1912, Page 5

MOTION OF ADJOURNMENT MOVED BY SIR J. WARD.

OiTOSED BY Mil MASSIiV

J'LiEAJIEII MEANS TO KKSION"

OPPOSITION WANT TO KNOW I'ERSONNEL OF THE CABINET. Sir .). Ward then moved the adjournment of the House. '.Mr Massey asked what that meant diril whether the Premier intended makiuy any statement with regard to the re-const nut ion of the Mimstrv. . - Sir .1. \\i\rd replied that Mr Massey had been inspired 'by the Christ - church Press and he was not. uik'ing orders from it or from Mr Massey. IHe was going to carry out bis duty Ito -the country. He was going to consider his party and sections which had supported him. V. ithin a week or two he would make a r-e----eonuuendalion to the Governor and in .lime they would meet the House and carry out the important proposals contained in the Governor's

Speech. Mr Massey held that the constitutional course for Government to follow, when only having, a majority o n the castinir vote of the Speaker, was to resign." Ho himself had said he would do so and now they ought to I go to the country. The House was I quite satisfied that Sir .1. Ward did not hold tin- confidence of Ihe House. Sir .1. Ward stated that he meant to resign and with his resignation meant the resignations of the Ministry.

Mr Massey said that at present CJpvernment was in thy minority. Voices : No. "We have srot a. majority of nix. _ , Mr Massey said ii was not fauto the country to auljourn the llousv before tU-o ut-u AHni^trv was sil lot"I----ed. .They lward in the TaV.^it^ U\a.t. live Ministers bad &m to go : the party would not staiul them. *>■ I thought Kir .1. Ward s-houkl have a i \voekvs liuu' to arraniro 3linist.«.-rui» i successors. Sir .1. Ward asserted thai ho know his position periVeih, Mr Musso\ was after some of the Liberal supporters, endeavouring to g"<-'t them ;to support- some of his ■hypoth;:Lieal views so as to enahle the part\ with the large land-owners behind thi'in to oeeupythe 'J'reasury benches, lie had never heard of Mr Massey's views being put. into operation elsewhere. Mr Massey wa.s representing a minority and he knew that his " (Sir .1. Ward's) method was the constitutional im>tho\l despite the assertions toth? contrary Mr Massey knew tho voiro of the j people was atrainst him. Ho (Sir j. Ward) thought that as the eountrv had entrusted him with many diHieuH matters in the past they could trust him now. He assured the House that they would do nothing against, the interests of the people a.rvd would present a good Cabinet. Mr .Massey then moved an amendment "That the House adjourns till 1.0.30 on Monday." He explained (.hat th-c I'remier .should submit, the new Cabinet to the House before it disperses. He thought the Premier «-as afraid to submit t-he Minisiry. The people were, entitled to know the personnel of the Cabinet.

The Hou.se resumed at 7.30

Mr Massey, continuing the debate on the motion to adjourn, said he believed in the <J overrun en t of the people by the people and not by a party, w'hieh happened for the timo bnini to hold the Treasury benches. He said they .should not be asked so go t o their homes without knowing the names of the untried Ministry. He emphatically denied the repeated assertion that the Opposition was supported by . the large landowners. There wore more large landowners on the. ■government side than on his. To show the amount of party funds at their disposal he stated that during the past six years since he had been the leader of the party he had not drawn iroir. ihe party's funds as much as would pay for the postage stamps used, that TVU.S because they hatl not i;.-.t. viioney. They were not Liberals. but. were true Democrats. The Hon. R. MoKenzie said he was surprised to see Mr Ivja^st'y not takingl his defeat in a manly manner. People outside had declared they •did not want Mr Massey as the loader of the Covenimont. Mr F. M. B. Fisher held . that the House should be .-ulj.oarned fur two or three weeks to allow the Ministry to resign and meet again with a new Ministry and policy.

Sir J. Ward/quoted pre-v-edents to tlie'course which be purposed following. He said he would like a spell in the ranks as he h t ul two jobs to fix up, Iht? prosecution of two men for statements made .in connection, with the five million loan. Uevertin^ to the present .state of affairs he held that the masses of the people could best be served by vhc bursting: up of tho huge areas of. land in the hands1 of the supporters and the friends of the Oppositioii.

Mr Harris held that Sir J. Ward's suggested bourse probably was constitutionally right, but was morally wrong. ■Tlie House should adjourn Cor a fortnight to allow the new Ministry to be formed.

Mr ,1. {{Allen- said Sir .!. Ward's only course was to resign before the House adjourned. He had secured the vote of at least one member #f the House on a pledge thai*'he \\-<!>uld resign tlie I'roniiersliip if he received that vote.

vSir .]. Wand gave that sUueu.ent an unqualified denial. Mr V{usseH quoted oMciaA figures showing that, ten prominent Opposition members and supporters owned between them £1,104,222 worth, of land. After a lengthy debate Mr Masssey"s amendment -was tlefeatecl on the voices.. Mr C. Thompson moved that the House adjourn- until March li. This was defeated on a division by 40 votes to &8, and the session ended.