MR MASSEY'S MAJORITY OF THREE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17691, 17 February 1923, Page 13

MR MASSEY'S MAJORITY OF THREE.

CSBS ISITT AND WITTY SUPPORT MINISTRY. House of Bepresentatives yesterday, both of the want amendments directed against the Government were rejj eonflflO" 10 *" Amendment of the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. 00 was defeated by 40 votes to 18. amendment of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. iMrt) *m tt e e atiTCd 6y 39 voteß t0 3C ' or taWns accollllt ot -H-41-to 38.

B OTH AMENDMENTS NEGATIVED. N0 SURPRISE AT RESULT. (UIOIIL TO THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, February 16. y 0 the surprise of most people, ini>jag even members of Parliament, *, debate on the no confidence amend,tati moved by Messrs Wilford and g,jlisd on the Address in-Bcply colU«ed readonly beforo the dinner advent of the House this afternoon, ill B. McKeen, the Labour member to Wellington South, i\as the last mem- ' til to 8P Ba k t0 the amendments. The i |ioli or" the day had been occupied u m members of Mr Holland's rW) Hr Holland's Amendment. When Mr McKeen had resumed his '(ttt, no other member seemed disposed to continue the discussion, and the' pieiker proceeded to put Mr Holland's isHtdment. It was 4.40 p.m. when |fy division bells rang, and members rij mre in the lobbies began to t$P b&ck into the chamber. Among tWwM the Prime Minister, who JOTfyd, sofenrajy to Mr Speaker, took ill iMMtomed seat on the front fteuory bench, and began to survey its icftne with evident unconcern. Tiere vras no special excitement beM that engendered by the sudden pilots of the debate. To everyone b IJW inner circles of politics, the replt pw already a foregone conclusion. | Tfcf bejls had not been long a-ringing ijtforff the Liberals began to hurriedly jfave the chamber to cries from the |lhoar benches of "Good-bye, goodM" and "Stand your ground." \ 4Tfti« point the only man left on * ty Libnabagats was Mr Atmore, the •" fia«ptn4«nt ■ Liberal-Labour member 'Be was reading the evenSoon afterwards. Mr Isitt cam Badt into the chamber and took desolate Opposition teasel, $e fyis going fco keep W* pledge, The Labour members peeked hjs abearance with some mgfyr. Mr isitt did not mind their e U /»t least, ho ignored it, MemW> Jronpej mi into the lobbies, and the tellers jetnrned with the lists. *k Hojjand'a amendment was defeated by 40 vote? to 18. The 18 was $i fe9» flan'the full strength of «» Labour Party, the extra vote in ( ttelr favour being past by Mr H. /Poland, the member for Ohinemuri. ;& Atmore, on the other hand, voted Jflfe % Reform Party against the mv tondmenl;. V 3' -•.-■■ 4j * fV^rw *' B Amendment p"»tfittyrjr the Speaker proceeded fopi Hi Wilford's amendment. *«Mb,« members trooped into the and again the result was as ifiiL% wn ?l e, ! t had defeated the i 3WW °*lWWals and Labourites >S„5 i T! ldeiltß > and had a clear S*w?x. threo over any possible of the people's represen7ft? "J* 18 P* ese Pt House. '^Wi3 and Pom "were paired >tt S*JP me i-Sir William Her- "» an* Mr H. W. TJru. M.,)!*^ 011 MeBST s Atmore and 'lfffolJ*" 1 ". 0 * the div ™ion caused no SEffin^'Sn. 01610 *« a jfitai?'.. There was n °ne of the "KISS'S?* 11 * that Prevailed when SffVfiT W 3 ri y flars a g° temporarily 4Hiss\? art 7 the casting vote "of fllf * the sacrifice of his Nwn - p ' NeMer was there 'SftfiMK ,nWe in^ensß interest in the .ggjwwg? When later Mr Massey suc*lffin i Taaatic overthrow of the "Cfe 11 water haa run under • nt£Si«* f 1^6 ' t> ut Mr Massey has ; '«ffift "J* unperturbed. ■ Possibly, *" now ahead of * B 1 ™ J#U continue to do so.