PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 15540, 9 July 1914, Page 4

PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT

GOVERNMENT ACTUAL MAJORITY EIGHT. LAST NIGHT'S VOTK TWO VOTES UNACCOUNTED FOR. [Fbom Ope. Pabliamentab.x Repoeteb.]

WELLINGTON, July 9. Both sides of the House profess to be satisfied with the division last night on the vote of want-of-ccerfidence. It was undoubtedly intended as a teet and as a means of "pla ng" one or two members about whose position—although the same was fairly evident to tho respective parties —there still remain a few shreds of doubt. In the case of the Hon. J. A. Millar, for instance, the belief is held that he may be a nominee for the Upper House, but when the division was taken last night ho was absent, having gone home early in the evening, not having expected a, division to be arrived at at that sitting. Tha member for Dunedin West is in poor health, being a mere shadow of his former robust self, and this seems to have been the genuine cause for his absence. Mr E. H. Clark was absent from tha Chamber, having gone to Rotorua with * sick friend, on the understanding that he was paired for the Government; but there seems to have- been little more than speculal'on as to bis intentions, and the Opposition, being sceptical on the point, refused to grant a pair for him, though it had been arranged that he was to pair with the Ken. Mr Npata. Accordingly Mr Bell's vote had to lie procured for the purpose. In view of the as to Mr Clark's party intentions at the next election, it is rather unfortunate that he was a.way; at least, politicians who delight to forecast the future and the possibilities of next, election consider it so.

The Government, of course, appropriate Koth Mr Clark's and Mr Millar's rotes, and this jrivea them an undoubted majority of eight votes over the Opposition. Such in unbiased quarters is reckoned to be an accurate forecast of tho voting etafe of parties at present-.