NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 11

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

MOVE BY ME. LYONS. MEW OPPOSITION PARTY. // MR. SCULLIN'S ATTACK. HOUSE IN AN UPROAR. lIEMARKABLE SCENES. 7 c legraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received May 7, 9.45 p.m.) CANBERRA. May 7. There were remarkable scones of cn•thusiasm in the Opposition lobbies in the Federal House of Parliament to-day, when the first meeting of tho United .'Australia Party was held. Mr. J. A. Lyons was elected leader, and Mr. J. G. Latham deputy-lender. Mr. W. /M. Hughes, Mr. W. M. Marks and Mr. W. L. Duncan, a member of the Senate who broke away from tho Nationalists prior to last election, and were largely responsible for the downfall of Mr. Bruce's Government, returned to tho fold, and were greeted with cheers. The first action of tho new Leader of the Opposition when ho took his seat in the House of Representatives this afternoon was to give notice of his intention tn move a motion of no-eonfidcnco in the Government-, which was followed by a bitterly sarcastic attack upon Mr. Lyons bv tho Prime Minister, Mr. J. 11. Scullin.

Members' Violent Exchanges. The House was in an uproar with interjections 'and violent exchanges between the members. The following is the t-3xt of Mr. Lyons' notion of no-confidence: "That this House condemns the Government for its failure to take the steps within its power to safeguard the Commonwealth against default, with the inevitable consequences of an extension of unemployment, distress and suffering, and therefore it no longer possesses the confidence of this House." The Prime' Minister intimated he was willing to move the suspension of the Standing Orders for a discussion of Mr. Lyons' motion. Otherwise it would be necessary to adjourn the House at once. Mr. Lyons replied that he was not willing to move his motion immediately, whereupon Mr. Scullin began his attack, saying Mr. Lyons had been going round bs the saviour of the country, and now he declined the chance to proceed with his scheme of salvation. Several other Ministers also condemned Mr. Lyons, and declared that he had tried to break the Ministry while Mr. Scullin was abroad. Mr. Lyons Acknowledged as Leader. Mr. Lyons, in a brief reply, said he did rot intend to indulge in cheap-jack efforts to defend his actions. He simply wished to assure tho House that no pains would be spared to turn tho Mill* istrv out at the earliest possible moment.

It was his privilege to lead a strength pried Opposition, to be known as tho United Australia Party, whose objective was probably well known to members of the Ministry. Hoots were given when Mr. Lyons resumed.his seat. .Mr. Latham, whose action in standing aside and allowing Mr. Lyons to become the Leader of the Opposition was praised by members of his party, announced that an important resolution had been agreed to, allowing members of the united Opposition liberty of action. '1 lie majority would not seek to bind tho minority, but the general principle had been affirmed that upon larger questions every endeavour should be made to achieve agreement, in order to present a united front to tho Government.