NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE

Evening Star, Issue 15539, 8 July 1914, Page 6

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE

ITS USE AND PURPOSE

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 8. Though the present no-confidence debate in the House, the central subject of which appears to be the Government’s Naval proposals, has much formality about it, there nevertheless is a big grain of serious intent running through it. There exists a desire to have made to the electors for the coming election a full disclosure as to the exact position of each member, especially of those who have not been free from vacillation. Tire intention is to give an emphasis to their position. It is generally understood that Mr Clark andHhe Hon. J. A. Millar will vote with the Government, the former in pursuance of his earlier attitude and the latter for the same reason, with the additional probability of an early nomination to the Upper House. A suggestion has been made that as Mr Myers is diametrically opposed to Sir Joseph Ward on the Naval question he may vote for the Government, but there is no real ground for the suggestion, his friends claiming that he (Mr Myers) has held consistently to his views in regard to the local Navy, while the Government have weakened and given ground. When the debate ends and tho vote comes to • the test it _ will not by any means be devoid of interest, and it will not be the fault of the respective sets of whips if the full voting strength of each side is not recorded.

The probable, duration of the debate is still uncertain. Few Ministers bavo yet spoken, and several talkers on the other side are certain to find expression. Apart from testing tho strength of tho parties, a prolonged aebate has no value, and many people think the test should be taken now and allow Parliament to proceed to the real work of the session.