THE MINISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 6

THE MINISTRY.

To those who look>below the surface of Parliament's proceedings there is subject for reflection in the attitude of the Government on tho Second Ballot- Bill, and the attitude of the Attorney-General towards the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. In his defcnce of the Second Ballot Bill, Dr. Findlay resorted to such weak arguments and opened his defenco so widely to attack, as to suggest that he dislikes the Bill, while his defence of the gag clause was so 'extraordinary, when his skill as a barrister is remembered, as to suggest that he really desired to, damn it in the eyes of the public. H'is attitude,' coupled with tho unusualncss. of the Government's objection to amendments, moved by the Government's representative in the Council, appears to indicate that there is a sharp division of opinion in tho Ministry itself. With rcspcct to tho Arbitration Bill, it is be-ing-freely remarked amongst.,habitues of the House that Dr. Findlay's speech on the second reading was so cold in tone as almost to suggest that he could not say a word in favour of the measure. The published summaries of tho speech are themselves most strongly suggestive of a conflict between the Attorney-Gen-eral and the Minister for Labour. The sharp criticism to which Dr. Findlay subjected some vital parts of the Bill is quite an unusual departure from the natural and the traditional attitude of the Minister in the Upper House. That criticism amounted to a slap in the face to Me. Millar, who, as we have said on a previous occasion, can really call tho Arbitration Bill his very own; and it is unlikely that Mr. Millar will feel no resentment at the shape which has been taken by his colleague's apparent anxiety to assert himself against Cabinet. That there should be divisions of opinion in a Ministry uninspired by any definite and sincere political ideal, is not surprising.