BY A SLENDER THREAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15859, 3 September 1913, Page 4

BY A SLENDER THREAD.

It seems to be expected that the division in the Federal House of Representatives on the wa-nt-of-confidence motion, proposed by Mt Fisher, leader of the Labour party,- will be taken to-night. If both patties are represented. at their full strength, as they may be expected to be, the Government will retain office upon the casting vote of the Speaker. It cannot, however, be anticipated that the present situation can be long maintained. The thread by which the Liberals are in power is of- unprecedented tenuity. Without'a majority in the Lower House and in' a serious minority in the Senate, Mr Cook and his colleagues occupy a position which, js quite untenable. This is recognised by none better than by themselves. "In • the very nature of things," the Prime Minister says, "the present position cannot be a lasting one." An appeal to the country in order to terminate a virtual deadlock is inevitable. Mr Cook has just declared that the Government will not be forced to a dissolution before it is ready. The question, however, is not merely when the dissolution shall take place but a-ko what manner of dissolution it shall be. And the latter is really the more important branch of the question, of the two parties in the Federal Legislature is finessing at the present time to secure the dissolution it particularly wants. The Labour party, secure in the possession of a large majority in the Senate, is aiming at a dissolution of the Lower House only. Its end will be served if it should secure the defeat.of the Government in some crucial division in that chamber. The effect in that case would be either that there would be a change of Government or else, and more probably, that there would be a diseolu-, tion of the House in which the division occurred. This being so, it ■ may be surmised that the Labour Opposition will keep hammering away at the Government in the 'House of Representatives in the hope that it may sooner or later win in a division. And if the outcome of this should be the dissolution of the Lower House only—as would be the case in this dominion in like circumstances—the Labour party would be placed in a position of great strategic advantage. The appeal to the countrjf which it desires is, as the Argus points out, based on the principle of "heads I win, tails you lose." If the Liberals should win more seats on a dissolution of the House of Representatives alone, there would still bo the overwhelming Labour majority.in the Senate to nullify all Liberal legislation.. If, on the other hamd, the Labour party should gain one or two seats, it would be able to govern absolutely without check; The reason, therefore, why the Labour party wants a dissolution of one House only is obvious. Equally obvious is the reason wliy the Liberals desire a dissolution of both Houses. If they should have a majority in the Lower House after a general election they would be powerless in the face of the Labour majority in the Senate. And their inability to get their legislation through both Houses would lead eventu-' ally to a double dissolution. It were better, then, they argue, that the double dissolution should be held at once so that the country may have the opportunity of declaring its will upon the whole situation and that the taxpayers may be spared the expense of two general elections following closely upon that which was held three months ago.