A NARROW MAJORITY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12283, 9 July 1914, Page 1

A NARROW MAJORITY.

RESULT OF NO-CONFIDENCE • DIVISION.; By Telegraph. (Special to the Oamaru Mail.) Wellington, July S

There had been a noticeable reserve on.', the part, of front-bench speakers during the lffst two days of the noconfidence debate. Evidently the leaders were anxious to test the question iii the division lobbies. The issue was ■brought to a head at 8.30 o'clock tonight, when it was found that the supporters of Sir Joseph Ward's amendment ..numbered 34 and the opponents 39, giving the Government a slender majority of five. This result 'was' received by Oppositionists with hearty Applause. The Government's win, of course, was quite expected. . Nobody looked for sudden revelations in .the division list, and if any uncertainty was felt by Reformers regarding the continued allegiance of Mr Clark (Chalmers), it was put at rest for the present by Jiis absence from, the division. The Hon. J. A. Millar was also an absentee. Two. Liberals were away, these being the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who is ill, and the Hon. D. Buddo, who is returning from a trip abroad. Both were paired with Ministerialists. The hopes of. the Ministerial party that the division would disclose cleavages in the Opposition, ranks were revealed by some remarks let fall by the first Reform speaker upon the resumption of the Address-in-Reply debate. Mr Wilkinson, the member for Egmont, addressing 'himself to the Liberal benches, chicled' members whom ho termed Inderjendents 'upon what lie declared'was a desertion of their proposed political attitude. some-merri-ment from the Liberal side he said: "They: can. be called Independents no longer; I 1 believe their independence lias gone at last, and that-they are now well-known supporters of the Liberal party." :The.same sense of disappointment was particularly indicated by Mr Wilkinson in regard to-Mr.A.-Mycrs, the member for. Egmont stating that Mr Myers endorsed the \ Reform navy policy 'but voted on the other side. The Liberals were .welcome: to'him. —(Opposition laughter.).'