A CLEAR STATEMENT WANTED.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2287, 4 March 1912, Page 5

A CLEAR STATEMENT WANTED.

Mr Massey : It is just as well that we should understand that fact, but I think the Prime Minister should have told us when he moved the motion. The House is entitled to know whether he proposes to make any Ministerial statement in regard to the reconstruction of the Ministry as indicated during the debate on the Address-in-Keply. I think the House is entitled to a reply to this question, and the country is entitled to a clear statement as to what the Prime Minister intends. The Prime Minister repeated that he was not going to take the Leader of the Opposition into his confidence. His duty was to the country and the party which supported the Government, lie would take the earliest opportunity of meeting them, and within a short period from now—a week, may be two, or may be more—he would make a recommendation to his Excellency the Governor as to the alterations that were to be made, and the new Ministry would meet the House in June next. He believed it would be strong enough to deal with any matters that might come up, and the Leader of the Opposition could then constitutional!}' meet the Government that would be constituted. He hoped he had made himself clear, and he thought he could hardly be expected to place himself under the control of the antiquated views of the Conservative press when they had been clubbing him in every direction with the Leader of the Opposition. He was not going to accept gifts from the Greeks. ' When he found those people (the Opposition) who were in a minority, in respect of the combined votes behind them, of 100,000 suggesting that he should be advised by them, he thought it was an insult to the people of the country and the party and the House. He was going to carry out the constitutional course absolutely, and later on lie would give his reasons publicly, and carry it out iu the right ami proper way. Mr Massey moved as an amendment to Sir Joseph Ward’s motion to add the words ‘ until Monday next,’ as an indication that the House should be informed of the charges proposed to be made in couucctiou with his Excellency’s Advisers. The debate continued until midnight and on being put Mr Massey’s amendment was lost ou the voices. Mr G. M. Thomson moved a further amendment that the House adjourn until Thursday, March 11th. He said that if this course was adopted the Prime Minister would have reasonable lime to carry out any change lie proposed to make, ami enable him to submit proposals to the House before Parliament prorogued. Sir J. G. Ward stated, in reply to Mr Fisher, that he would not bo Prime Minister when the House reassembled. The House divided at 1.50 a.m, and the amendment was defeated by 10 votes to 38. All the Labor members voted with the Government. The session has ended. MEMBERS EXPLAIN THEIR VOTES. Subsequent to the division on Tuesday last Messrs Veitch, Payne, ami Atmorc explained to a “‘Star ” reporter their attitude. After recounting the unsuccessful attempts by Auckland Oppositionists to tie him up to their parly, Mr Payne added that at a meeting before the second ballot, when publicly asked how he would vote ou a no-confidcnce motion, he asked iu return : “ On what grounds ?” “ The Laud Question,” came the answer. “ Now, at that time.” continued Mr Payne, “ 1 was under the impression that there were millions of acres lied up by the Crown, and that for some unaccountable reason these areas had not been thrown open for settlement. On that assumption I was against the Government, but since hearing the discussion in Parliament I find that such is not the case.” Regarding the future the member for Grey Lynn said : I am of opinion that the Labor party and the Liberal and Radical elements in the old Government party will work in harmony for the general betterment of the people, and the fact that tbe Local Government Bill and the Legislative Council Reform Bill are already circulated shows that vve arc already moving along with the programme outlined in tbe Governor’s Speech. Mu Veitch. “ Now that T have carried out my pledge to vote against the Ward Administration I am a free man to exercise my vote iu support of the progressive principles 1 was returned to further,” said the member for Wanganui. “ Far from being pessimistic about the present position, t am quite satisfied that there never was a better opportunity of establishing, and if established on proper principles, of maintaining a good, sound progressive Government out of the elements in the present Parliament.” Mu Atmoue, “ I am looking forward to Ministerial reconstruction,” said Mr Atmorc, whose Sphinx like attitude upon the amendment was maintained until the division was taken. “J was so absolutely unpledged that the Leader of the Opposi- ,i lion, when the division bells were ring- I ing, bad to ask me how I was voting, £ and I told him, “ I am against you.” 1 The reason for Mr Atrnore’s final ‘ decision to support the Liberal party : were explained by him. “ The fact that the Opposition had spoken so strongly about the necessity for cutting up the native lauds, which arc worth about f 000,i(00 altogether, while the largo ] landowners, the majority of whom are ] Oppositionists, own land to the value of I .CL3,000,000. made it clear to mo that it was hopeless to expect that, if they got into power, they would put ou a Graduated Land Tax stiff enough to force 1 their own land into the market. The) c application of the Graduated Land Tax ( m this way must take the place of a ' lands for settlement purchase policy. Another question that decided me was this : Although the Opposition probably won at the elections largely on their antagonism to the borrowing policy of the Government, it was clearly evident to me, after hearing the speeches in Parliament this session, that with the exception of one adverse motion proposed by an Oppositionist and supported by seven" or eight colleagues, with the object of reducing the water power loan ] by £200,00 i), the Governments borrowing policy, to the extent of almost £'lß,ooo, 000 during the Just live or six years, ] has been endorsed by the Opposition.