DOUBLE DISSOLUTION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 107, 11 June 1914, Page 7

DOUBLE DISSOLUTION.

AN EXCITING DEBATE. ! PREMIER AND GOVERNOR. OPPOSITION BETUSE SUPPLY. REFUSE TO ACCEPT EXPLANATION. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (Received June 11, 10.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 11. The House and the galleries were crowded when the Treasurer moved the resolutions asking for three months ' supply to earry over the election. The Opposition immediately demanded that the Hon. Joseph Cook should inform the House of the reasons given to the Governor-General, Sirß.MunroFerguson, for the dissolution. A wrangling and excited debate then took place, Mr Cook promising to make a statement when supply was granted. He also announced that the elections would be held on September 5, but this was contingent on the quick passage of supply. The Opposition were not satisfied with this statement, and eventually Mr Cook agreed to confer with Mr Fisher. The House adjourned for four hours, arid upon reassembling, Mr Cook, at the > request of Mr Fisher, made a statement to the effect that he had advised Sir R., Munro-Ferguson to grant a double dissolution, assuring him that the requirements of the Constitution had been complied with, and that the present state, of the parties made Parliament unwork-j able.

Sir E. Munro-Ferguson agreed to grant a dissolution, provided that the necessary supply be obtained. Mr Wm. Hughes resumed the debate, demanding that Mr Cook should place the actual memorandum he had' given to Sir R. Munro-Ferguson before the House. It was, he said, most important that the House should have the actual facts so that it could see if the Governor-General had been properly advised. The debate was adjourned.

A UNIQUE CEREMONY.

THE ADDRESS-I&--REPLY. . : GOVERNOR OMITS USUAL THANKS. (Received June 11, 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, June 11. > The Labour majority in the Senate added an amendment to the Address-in-Reply amounting to a censure on the Ministry, in connection with a certain railway contract Consequently, the Government representatives declined to participate in the presentation of the Address-in-Reply to Sir R. Munro-Ferguson, who, on accepting it from the President, omitted the usual thanks for the Address-in-Reply. The ceremony was unique.-