IN THE BALANCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1194, 1 August 1911, Page 5

IN THE BALANCE.

NEW SOUTH'WALES CRISIS. MINISTRY'S FATE HANGS ON TWO BY-ELECTIONS. POLITICS AT A STANDSTILL. By TelccraDh—Pr-.-ss Association-Cocrrlcb) (Roc. July 31, 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, July HI. .Mr. Wade, Loader of the. Opposition in tlio State Parliament, states that owing to his inability to persuade the Lictilon-ant-Governor, Sir \Y. I'. Cullen, to grant a dissolution, ho Ims returned his commission to form a Ministry. Mr. Ilolman, the lato Acting-Premier, was sent (or by his Excellency, who asked him to withdraw the resignations of the Government, and offered to grant the condition previously asked for—that Parliament should bo prorogued until tlio by-elections for tho two vacant Labour seats have taken place. Mr. Holmaii consented, and tho prorogation will issue to-morrow. In the meantimo the Labour Government will continue in power. HIS EXCELLENCY CRITICISED. Sydney, July 31. Tho political situation is unaltered. Mr. C. G. Wade, Leader of tho Opposition, saw tho Lieutcnant-Govcmor (Sir W. J , . Cullen) on Saturday, but nothing has been disclosed as to what took place. Mr.- G. S. Brinor, Labour member for Raleigh, who was stated to have withdrawn his support from the Government, now says he will support Labour so long as it docs not make extreme proposals. At tho commercial travellers' dinner, Mr. A. 11. Griffith, Minister for Works in the M'Gowcu ' Ministry, attacked the Lieutenant-Governor, stating that the electors had said emphatically that the Labmr party was to govern, but Sir William 'ullen says it must bo someone els«. Mr. Storey, Leader of the Independents, predicts that there will be a dissolution very shortly. Mr. Dunn, Labour member for Mudgee, who resigned his seat last week, regrets his resignation, since tho Labour caucus has decided to preserve existing rights of conversian to the freehold, anil has submitted his name to the Mudgeo Labour League for re-election. Tho league, however, declined to consider it, and submitted tho name of Mr. Carl Johnson to the Central Executive. RETURNING TO THE TOLD. (Rce. August 1, 0.55 a.m.) Sydney, July 31. The Central Executive of the Political Labour League has (lecided to consider Mr. Dunn's application for renomination as Labour candidate for the Mudgeo scat.

A DOOMED MINISTRY. MAJORITY VANISHES IN A NIGHT. Interest in tlie censure motion tabled by Mr. Wade was on Tuesday night last overshadowed by the excitement created in the- New South Wales Legislative Assembly when tho resignation of Messrs. Homo and Dunn, two members of tho Labour party, was announced. Tho resignations meant that the Governments narrow majority in tho House completely vanished.. The resignation (says tho Sydney Morning Herald") came as a complete surprise to tho Government. It has for weeks past been an open secret that the Labour caucus has been divided on-the question of tho proposed repeal of thd Conversion Act, and Messrs. Horno and Dunn were tho leaders of those whowero understood to be absolutely opposed to Mr. Nielsen's policy. It was reported on good authority a'few weeks ago that the Minister for Lands threatened to resign at once unless he was allowed a free hand, and he. was only mollified by a promise that he would to 'permitted to introduce his "leasehold only" policy when Mr. M'Gowen returned from 'abroad. It was hoped by the members of the Government, who were sorely distressed over these happenings, that the trouble would then abate. Mr. Wade's motion of censure appears to have revived tlie trouble, however, in a more acuto torm, the culmination being that Messrs. Horno and Dunri, regarding their presence in the caucus as no longer tolerable, because of their opposition to Mr. Nielsen s policy, took tlie extreme course of resigning their seats. Even then the matter only came out by a oide-wind, and was not made public by the Speaker (Mr. Cann) till a direct question was asked of him by Mi. 11. Morton. The debate bad proceeded from 2.30 till G o'clock, and after the dinner adjournment Mr. H. Morton asked the Speaker whether thero was any truth in the rumour that Messrs. Homo (Liverpool Plains) and Dunn (Mudgee) has resigned their S? Tliii Spoaker replied: "Yes; I hare the resignations of the two honourable members mentioned by Mr. Morton. Those resignations were handed in since tho debate commenced." The conduct of the Speaker in not announcing the resignations immediately on their receipt by him subsequently formed the subject of further questions in the House. A Complete Surprise. The announcement of the Speaker was a surprise to everybody Even members ot the Labour party were quite unaware of the action of the two members during the afternoon. Mr. Dunn was at tlie caucus in the morning, but if he then had any intention of taking tho step he kept it'to himself. Mr. Home was not present. The Houss mot at half-past 2 n the afternoon, and proceeded to business. Messrs. Home and Dunn were not in their places. At about half-past 5, wliila Mr. Wade was speaking, the AcungPreiuier had two letter? handed to him. These wert> the resignations. Whatever may have been Mr, Holman's feelings at such an unpropitious moment, he suppressed them, and went on with his speech as i-oon as Mr. Wnde sat down.

The letters to Mr. ilolmnn announced that the writers had arranged pairs with two Liberals. It was ascertained Hint Messrs. Downss and Hindinavsh were Hie 'L'iio letters also stated that they did not intend to stand again as candidates for the seats. The House was soon in a state of excitement. When the adjournment for dinner took place at G o'clock the news spread throughout the lobbies and diningrooms. Even (hen, nevertheless, there were some unaware of Hie feisation. Jt was not until Mr. 11. D. Morton askeci the Speaker shortly after 7 o'clock whether he had received the resignations of two members that it became kuown tp all. The Speaker's Position. On the other hand it was contended they ceased to he members of Parliament us soon as their resignations were in the hands of the Speaker. The Constitution Act is explicit enough on the point. It says:—"lt shall be lawful for any mem her of the Assembly, by writing under bis hnnd addressed to the. Speaker of the said House, to resign his seal , I heroin and upon receipt of such resignation by tho Sneaker the seat of such member shall become vacant." ]t was not long before Hip matter came u]) in the House. In answer to some iiuestions tho Speaker made it apparent' that Mr. Dunn and Mr. ITornc were still in his mind members- of Hie House. Mr. T/;vion said he was not in the llonso when the announcement was made. "Is it a fnct, Mr. Sneaker," he asked, "Hint Mr. Home and Jlr. Dunn have resigned, and Hint you have I'heir resignations in your hands?" Mr. S;>e;iker vcplieil: "It is a fact (hat I have, had these resignations handed to mn since , I ho debut* commenced." Mr. Lovioii said-. "I want, to ask theconstitutional tiuoslion. Having Hiefo resignations in your hands, is it not your duty to at once declare (hose se.it.s vacant, and report to (lie House? They are either (here or t.hey aro not there.' . To this tin; Speaker replied: "That is .so, But it has always been .held by my

predecessors that you don't interrupt the biisiiu'ss of Iho House, but wait till you get an oppcirlunily In make the announeoliirnl. 1 have merely taken that course. J nniv hold in my hands messages from Hie Governor and the Auditor-General merely wailing lor an opportunity to deliver I hem lo tin. Jlouse. In reference lo this question asked there have' been two or til roe decisions given lo my predecessors that when a resignation is announced the seats .should bo declared vacant, by a resolution of tlio IJouse. If Ihe llous'e had not lu-on silting 1 should have issued n writ. But when Hie House is siding it has always been the. practice lo declnro the resignations by resolution."