The Feilding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1912. The Political Situation.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 1727, 23 February 1912, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1912. The Political Situation.

This is becoming more exciting thanj ever because, whilst the Government Party is carrying on the No-Confi-dence debate to the extent of. three speakers from its side to one from the Opposition, negotiations appear to be under way in the direction of getting more votes for the Government. Wo are inclined to take this latter view of tho case because of the strange action of members of Mr Wilford's committeo who went to Wanganui yesterday and attempted to induce Mr Veitch's Committee to influence the member for Wanganui to break his pledge to vote against Wardism by pairing with the present member for the Hutt. The Wanganui committee emphatically turned down the suggestion from the Hutt. Then, again, the opportunity of the mass meeting of flax workers at Palmerston yesterday was taken to get cue Member for Flaxmills in the House (Mr Robertson) to vote ior the Government, and break his election pledges. The feature of the debate in the House last night was the expected declaration by Mr Payne that ho would, after all, vote for the Government at the present crisis. And Mr Hindmarsh, who still has the quid mines guessing as to what he will do in the division lobby, declared that he would "never support any party which had Mr Millar in its Cabinet." This may mean that if the Government gets rid of Mr Millar during the course of the present debate Mr Hindmarsh may follow Sir Joseph Ward. This might be the interpretation of a Press Association telegram sent out last night which says that "it is understood 11) at several other Ministers aro ready to announco their intention of retiring if tho party so desires," suggesting that tho Premier and MiMillar were serious in their declarations during the debate that if they were called upon by their party, for the latters good, to stand down and •cut they would resign /theft- portfolios. Another message from Wellington intimates that "it is understood in the lobbies at the present moment- that the Opposition are confident o* victory when the division is taken on Mr Massey's No-confidence motion." As to yesterday's debate, ie-was carried on by Mr Sidey, after whom, as no member of the other s':h> followed, the Government Whip 'Mr Mac Donald) continued, and he was succeeded by Mr Payne, who held himself back so that he might get the limelight of a full house at the ovf.nirig session. The Opposition -H-it-y could not allow the Auckland Socialist to go unrebuked, so Mr Harris was put up, and that promising newcomer, of whose qualities Feilding folk had a taste the other night at the local rally, gave the turncoat a good drubbing, and then sat down. After a. denial from Mr Payne (by way of a personal explanation) of his having broken his pledges, Mr Hindmarsh, another wild, weird, and wobbly Socialist, also spoke, and was followed by Mr Vigor Brown, who was vigorous without saying anything of moment. Mr Dickie moved the adjournment of the House, and members went home 'just before midnight—again vu-y tired of the much talk and no work.