STALEMATE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18635, 9 March 1926, Page 9

STALEMATE.

CANADA'S GOVERNMENT, TURMOIL IN PARLIAMENT. (raoit ora owb cosmssosuwi) VANCOUVER, January 16. Turmoil and chaos, creating a precedent in the Canadian Dominion, followed tho formal opening of Parliament in Ottawa-, but the King Government was neither sustained nor defeated. In a word, Canada is faced with a political stalemate, the like of which has never before been chronicled. The constitutional right of tl» Government to carry on was sharply challenged by the St. Hon. Arthur Meighen, loader of the Conservative Party which won a great triumph m the last federal election. Mr Meighen offered- a want of confidence, motion which came only after tho Hon. truest Lapointe, Government House leader.had attempted to rush the b«rner* with a resolution which would nave committed the Chamber to confidence. in the ability of the Liberal Party to govern with a majority almost indiscernible. The Government's hope of securing an early mandate was blighted. The Prime Minister, William Mackenzie Ring, and the Hon. Ernest Lapointe were forced into a position where they will be compelled to prove their right to the "'sweets of office." Political history was made on a day which tradition ordains; should bs sacred -to pomp and ceremony. The" fight between Liberals, their half-hearted Progressive Allies, and tho rejuvenated Conservatives, was entered upon and no man could foresee the outcome of this impasse in Cnnadian politics. where a defeated Liberal Prime Minister and nine of his Cabinet Minister* resolutely refused to relegate the reins of government to the victorious Conservative Party. STemorawa Scene. Never in the history of Confederation has- such a scene been witnessed at the beginning of a newly-electdd Parliament or tno opening day of » session. The formalities were observed. His Excellency at the Senate and read the Speech from the Throne; the Commoners returned to their chamber, and the masks of ceremony were dropped. Stark and naked political realities replaced the gold braid and show of the commencement. Tho Hon. Ernest Lap'oiute, Miuister of Justice, and Got. : ernment Honse leader, sought to force the issue with a motion expressing confidence in bis Party to g»ve> government to Canada. His thrust elicited something akin to a ravage roar of anger from Conservative beaches. Stalwarts long absent from tie fray plunged into the arena. Mr Lapointe, literally buried tinder a wave of cross-fire, and amid cries of points of order,was tho centre* of the attack. The Conservatives, and at times, too. Progressive ranks, roundly cheered the attackers. A declaration, by the Rt. Hon. Arthur Meighen, l that Mr Lapointe was in contempt of Parliament, brought further uproar, in which Mr' Speaker , Lemieux became involved in an argu» meat as to the legality of the Government motion, being finally forced to ' reserve decision until a later date, I This ended the first phase; Again Mr lapointe Bought a w*j» toward the light of political day and? he gloried in the difficulties being temporarily postponed. , Mr Meighen moved an amendment to tha Speech from tho Throne, bat the Liberal protests were stifled by the Speaker and Mr Meighen taMttte l-in^t]^.4»eatt««hU&<4ftUverfjW-'.a-scatfting Enunciation of'tnq Government and emphatically declaring that Government was non-existent; tfiit Mr King's course was one of ttsurpa<-tie-nof power, and that his Administration should forthwith resign. Battle and Tumult. - Then began a battle on coostitutiasal .procedure as obtaining' in JBriiiah Parliamentary practice which JAst*d until nearly ten o'clock in the evening. Mr Meighen'a attack Was "followed by a defence by Mr Lapointe, which, was equally heated, and equally bitter. At. times the members hung in silence upon tho words af their leaders. At tlffies . they roared thoir applause or con,demna> iion. At intervals the chamber was in tumult from desk thumping and sheering. Through it all crowded galleries listened with keenest attention secure in the knowledge that thov wore watering not only a struggle tor pew*r but, a new doparturo in Canadian politteai history. Eichly-gowned women, unable' i to find soats, stood through tha long ' afternoon and evening; Senator*. staffofficcra, and representatives ©f loreJga Powers, in their State uniform*, sat;or * stood - as opportunity permitted. " The ■ Parliamentary police were powerless to. control tho vlaltora, and for one* ins strict rules governing tho galleries were - relaxed. Tho usual receptions by; the Speaker of tho House of Commons, and tho Speaker of tho Senate were almost abandoned, while a delectable smell of unpoured coffee pervaded the corridors and chambers Tho Opposition Loader in his argument covered many points, bnt in the final analysis sot forth that the Government had lost tho confidence of the people, was not entitled to the confidence of Parliament, and that its holding to office was an unprecedented usurpation of the prerogatives of Government. He spoke of tho vott of the different parties of their relative standing in Parliament) dug up a number of< cases he claimed to be analogous and returned to tho essential plea that the ministry was not regularly In oAtce sad not entitled either to ask or to receive the approbation of the House. His final point on which he laid Considerable stress was that inasmuch as the Prime Minister was without a Seat in either Houso and as ho was the official channel of communication with the Crown, the Government, in reality had ceased to exist. ~ Narrow Squeak for Premier. Tho Parliamentary week following the opening of the session was one fail of thrills, but the situation was beclouded with obscurity. The Progressives appeared to hold the key U> the • position and on them alone depended the continuation of Mackenzie King m ofllco as Prime Minister. This grasp is - strong for caucuses and many private meetings were held by this agrarian faction. The air was full of rom Oar, intensified by Industrious propaganda of both main parties, the one predicting a majority of eight, or even the potential maximum of ten, for the Song Government, and the other saying that defeat by about one majority was imminent. !. All through the first part of the week the debate waxed fast and furious, and I on the Friday morning, January 15th, I the Government of Premier Mneketrca, ' i King was given a vote of confidence, | but the victory was an intensely narrow one, the Liberal Premier only winning by a majority of three votes oat «f a vote of 243 members. No one e*s foretell what will eventuate in tjto future, as the position of the Goranment is obviously extremely shaky aaimany predict an early defeat $s asgftt when some controversial question •*■*■ up for, a vote. Business throngleot the country has been greatly nnesttlea owing to the uncertainty of the'tenure of Mr King and his supports***