COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17216, 19 January 1918, Page 8

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS

' THE CENSURE MOTION. LAJBOUR'S "UNPATRIOTIC ATTITUDE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. MELBOURNE, January 18. The feature of tlio censure debate -was tbtf "unwillingness of the Labour party to cooperate witch, the Government in any declared vrar policy, this being because of the iiifLaenee of outside Labour organisations against any eueh onion. Tho general character of the opposition speeches may be indicated thus : That the Government which violates a pledge to the people cannot again be trusted.. But the Labour party neither provides an alternative to the Ministerial war policy nor makes it clear whether it will support the Government in any branch of war effort. The fact that New Zealand soldiers are on furlough at Home, while the Australiaos are denied a similar privilege, caused heated argument. One member said that he considered that, having defeated conscription at the referendum, the Opposition were under an obligation to find means to enable such leave to be permitted. The ' vote at the referendum, ho argued, wcruld affect Australia's .position when peace terms came to be discussedi . The query : 1 ' What about tljie German colonies ?" brought ejaculations from Labour members : " They are no good to us." "No annexations and no indemnities," "■No cheap Imperialism." A meeting of the Labour party decided .not. to amalgamate with the existing 'National party. {Received Jan. 19, at 0.35 a.m.) ', . The motion of censure was rejected by AS-rotes to 19. The intended coalition amendment was abandoned. FRESH SHUFFLE 01' CAHDS. . NEW MINISTRY FORECASTED. MELBOURNE, January 18. . -. (Received Jan. 18, at 9J.0 p.m.) :'.An unexpected political development has occurred. Several Ministerialists are conferring for the purpose of framing an | amendment to Mr Tudor's censure motion. ' with the object of forming a National j Government.