NO-CONFIDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 15540, 9 July 1914, Page 7

NO-CONFIDENCE

WIN FOP. THE GOVERNMENT

BY FIVE VOTES.

THE LIBERALS HAPPY.

[From Our Parliamentary P»eportee.]

WELLINGTON", July 9. Thd debate on Sir Joseph Ward's inotkm of no-confidence in the Government, came to a- welcome end in the House last night at- 8.37 o'clock, the Government tiring the Opposition by studiously refraining from patting up Ministers (as politicians fiay) to reply to the tantalising statements of members of the other side. _, Keen interest was taken in the musteline; of forces prior to tho division being taken, and many eyes were directed on Mr E. H. Clark's bench, ino secret having been made of the fact that ono of tho chief aims of the Opposition in advancing a noconfidence motion xi-as to determine exactly tho political position of the member for Chalmers. It was empty, and remained vacant throughout the interesting test of party strength. Observers noticed that the Hon. J. A. Millar was also absent. The following is the division list: For the Amend- Against the Amendment (34): ment (39): Atmoro Allen Brown Anderson * Buxton Bollard, J. Carroll Bollard, 11. F. C'olvin Brsdney Graigio Buchanan Davey Buick Dickie Campbell I'jll Coates Forbes Dickson Glover Eecott Hanau Fisher Hindmarsli Fraser Isitt Guthrio M'Callum Harris M'Combs Herdmau Mac Donald Hemes MKenzic Hino Myers Hunter Pd-rata Lee Payne Malcolm Poland Mander Rangihiroa Massey Robertson Newnjau, Br Russell Xosworthv iSeddon Okey Sidey Pearce Smith, R. W. Pom are Thomson, J. C. Reed Veiteh Rhodes, R. H. Ward - Rhodes, T. W. Webb Scott Wilford Snith, F.' H. Witty Stat ham Sykes Thomson, G. M. Wilkinson Wilson Young —Paire.— For: Against: Ruddo Xewman, E. STgata Bell

The Government Whip explained to your representative, at a later stage, that -Mr Clark had arranged to bo paired with Mr Nagata, but that owing to Mr Bell (Wellington Suburbs) having been called out of town on urgent private business, a misunderstanding had inadvertently arisen, with the result that Mr Bell was paired with the representative of the. Eastern Maoris. Neither side can claim the support of the Hon. J. A. Millar, who was not in his seat when the division was celled.

The result iras received by the Opposition with prolonged acclamation. They appeared to be thoroughly delighted with tho result, and immediately the debate on the Address-in-Reply was "resumed Mr -J. Vigor Brown (Napier) lost no time in asserting that it (tho result) was a. decisive indication of what would happen at the General Election. The Government did not seem downcast over the result of the first division of a session that promises to be rich in divisions of diverse kinds. THE TEST IN 1912.

On the occasion of tho defeat of the Mackenzie Ministry on July 5, 1912, the Reform party carried a No-confidence motion by 41 to 33, thus gaming administrative- power by a majority of 8 votes.