THE FINAL DIVISION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14293, 2 March 1912, Page 9

THE FINAL DIVISION.

PRIME MINISTER'S PLEDGE

The protest against the attltudo <i the Government in regard to the ieconsfcruction proposal, occupied the last day of tho session. It has been said that tho debate was unduly prolonged, but members of tho Reform Party, who had not spoken during the no-confidence debate, %vere anxious to make their opinions known by . n active participation in opposition to the Ministerial plans. It was obvious during tho earlier part of the no-con-fidenco debate, that it was detrimental to tho party's interests .to postpone the division, and many members who desired to speak, restrained themselves until yesterday. The principle for which they strove was carefully impressed by insistent repetition and by tho presentation of every aspect of the subject. !

In tho last stage of the debate, during tho early hours of the morning, a clear- indication of the Primo Minister's intention politically was forced from him by Mr Fisher's cross-questioning. Tho member for Wellington Central asked tho Prime Minister whether he would say that after liis promised resignation he would not again accept the Primo Ministership the same day or some later day. !

The Primo Minister';: I don't do that sort of thing; I don't break my word. Mr Fisher: I am very glad to hear it, but I.am surprised that the hon. gentleman should be content to lean on a broken word.

Soon afterwards Mr Fisher declared his belief that if tho House adjourned at this time Sir Joseph Ward would meet tho Houso again as Prime Minister.

Sir Joseph Ward: I won't. Mr Ell (to Mr Fisher): Now tako it all back.

Mr Fisher said that he was glad that by close questioning he had extracted a" plain statement from tho Primo Minister.

The division upon Mr G- M. Thomson's amendment that the House should adjourn until March 14th was taken at 1.50 a.m. Tho division on r,he amendment was exactly the same as that on the no-confidenco motion, with tho exception that tho Labour member for Wanganui (Mr Veitch) voted with tho Government.