STOP PRESS ITEMS

Evening Star, Issue 20024, 15 November 1928, Page 12

STOP PRESS ITEMS

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. MELBOURNE, November 15—The State Government was defeated by 31 votes to 30 on a motion of no-confidence relating, to tbo propostal redistribution of seats, which was accepted in place of the original motion condemning the Government’s attitude on the waterside troubles. The Ministry will probably resign in a few days. ECTION commenT-tA coalition hint. Accepting the returns from the various parts of the dominion as a pointed indication that be country is dissatisfied with-the Reform administration, Mr Lysnar (Gisborne* commented, to-day that, wJmo some usctul men bad fallen, the electors certainly bad climiiuiicd a majority of those_ who, in Jiis opinion were responsible Tor holding back the Prime' Minister, and'retarding bis efforts to fully satisfy the requirements of the dominion. “ Unde" these circumstances,” lie remarked, ‘‘ the way should bo open for a coalition in tbo best interests of the country. Party prejudices should be dropped, and tbo Reform, United, and Independent members should form one strong party as against tbo extreme Labour clement. Out of this a good stable Government unquestionably could Lo formed, The result of the popple's voting practically demands such a course, and those responsible for stepping such a coalition will, if another election is' forced on, be seriously prejudiced in tbo eyes of the electors. It seems to mo that it is tbo duly of members to exhaust all possible avenues through winch a rapproebment might bo effected, and a good, stable Government formed from the best, elements of all these parties, before forcing on another General Election. —Gisborne message. FUSION LOGICAL AND LIKELY. A Westport message says lli.-it Mr H. E. Holland describes the result as the most crushing defeat ever inflicted on a Government in the history of Australia and New Zealand. Labour, he said, has made a most significant forward move, and is master of the situation for the time being, for neither of the other two parties can cany on without its consent, and Labour will never vote to bold the present Government iu power. Mr Holland adds: “I do not anticipate that Mr OoatJS and his Ministers will seek to continue iu office. After the debacle, the country is entitled to expect that the Premier will meet Parliament immediately, or, alternatively, that lie will Jose no time in tendering the resignation of his Cabinet.” The Labour leader further states that as Sir Joseph Ward could only bold office at the will of the Labour Party, and since a majority of his followers had repudiated the idc.-t that they would vote witli Labour, it does not appear likely that they would agree to a Ward Government largely subject to the dictation of the Labour Parly. Hence, failing fusion of the anti-Labour parties, be forsocs an early appeal to the electors. He considers an amalgamation of those parties both logical and likely, SIR JOSEPH WARD PASSES THROUGH TO-NIGHT. Air Ring, Otago organiser of the United Party, has received advice that Sir Joseph Ward, en route for Wellington, will pass through Dunedin on the midnight express, due here at 10.55 p.m. to-night. A big crowd is expected to meet him.