LIBERALS AND LABOUR.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9981, 11 July 1925, Page 5

LIBERALS AND LABOUR.

NO-CONFIDENCE AMENDMENTS BOTH DEFEATED. (Special—Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, Last Night. An attempt to produce a statement from the Prime Minister regarding the fusion negotiations was made when the House met to-day, Mr Holland remarking that them was ail opposition but it did not function w-hieh was an extremely unsatisfactory condition. Mr Coates replied, asking the questioner to exercise some _jxatience.

Subsequently the Pin me Minister announced that the Government, in accordance with precedent, must l-egard Mr Atmone s amendment in favour of the creation of a National Party as a no-confidence motion. When the debate resumed a moment later Mr Atmore was called on. He strongly criticised tlie party leaders for springing a surprise on him, as he expected not to speak till the evening. He spent an hour in showing that throughout the world communistic forces were working to split up the moderate elements with a view to the downfall of capitalism. The Government’s decision to accept the amendment ns one of no-confidence was the merest snbterfVige. The present Government had not functioned for years owing to lack of a majority, and this enabled the extreme elements to dominate. He urged members to get together to stem the rising tide of Bolshevism, adding: “If yo*i aro not the blind slaves of party you will do what the people desire.” Mr Corrigan (Patea) seconded. Mr P. Fraser moved an amemlmentment to Mr Atmore's amendment, that the words after “is” in the first line be omitted, and that these words be inserted: “desirable in the best interests of the Dominion that th© three-party system should come to an end, aad that th© proposed union between the Reform and Liberal parties should be consummated; that there is no sin.gle political principle upon which the two parties mentioned axe in disagreement and that no question of the allocation of portfolios personal ambitions or the claims of candidate* is any justification for blocking the way to the immediate formation of a Conservative party or for the Reform and Libei-al parties l-emaining apart.” Mr Lysnar declared himself strongly for fusion, but without forcing it on the leaders. As the amendment was one of no confidence he would not vote for it, but would not vote against it. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) stated that if he was free from a no confidence issue he would support Mr Atmore’s amendment.

On a division Mr Fraser’s amendment was negatived by 51 votes to 16, the Liberals joining with the Government in the majority. Mr Holland announced that, as Labour always voted against the Government, it would support Mr Atmore’s amendment, much as it disliked association with the member for Nelson. Mr Atmore’s amendment was lost by 34 votes to 30. Th© Liberals voted with Labour and Mr Atmore.