THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, February 9, 1912. THE GOVERNMENT'S VICTORY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13352, 28 February 1912, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, February 9, 1912. THE GOVERNMENT'S VICTORY.

:>.s-cr again have the prophets been ronfounded. Tho prediction that the iesb of strength on tho no-confidence motion would go against the Liberal L'arty has not. been expressed only by those 10. whom the wish was father to'tho thought. It was tho general impression that the division would result, Ayos.'-ii; Noes 37, with the virtual certainty of Mr Massey being successfully challenged as soon as his Ministry 'took office. The regrettable Dpi soda of Friday night changed the appearance of iffairs, and it seemed that ono or two votes which had been confidently regarded as hostile to the Administration would thereby be influenced in tho opposite direction. This proved to be so in Mr Robertson's case, or at any rate that member announced that ho had discovered a course which! would permit of his voting, against tho motion, while not being incompatible with any pMfdges he had given. This loft the fate of the parties hanging in the balance with the votes of Messrs Atmoreand Veiteh'iiot definitely allocated. The latter ended tho suspense as far as he was concerned by intimating his intention to support the motion. The uhole issue then depended upon Mr Atinore, and he maintained an enigmatical silence almost until tho last moment when ho could be heard before the division was taken. He was in the position,'as tho "Post" expressed it, of ''a jury of ono," the cynosure of r.ll eyes. When Mr Atmore ros-c to address an expectant House last night ho spoke- moderately and well. He did not figure as the irreconcilable of tho campaign platform, and ho reached a much closer approximation than his pre-election speeches led us to believe was possible to the Independent Liberal. He was obviously strongly influenced in favour of tho Government by the policy ot futuro development of Liberalism sketched in the Governor's Speech, and probably to a considerable extent by tho sacrifico the Prime Minister is prepared to make for the<-sake of his party. His speech also evidenced a wholesome distrust of the Opposition's ability or desire to frame and carry out the progressive legislation the country demands. Apart from those considerations, however, we have held the view since the no-confidence amendment to the Address-in-Reply was tabled, that it was one the member for Nelson could not support if lie entertained any regard for tho only undertaking he. would give during his last candidature concerning his attitude on a no-confideuce motion. Speaking at tho Theatre Royal on the night before the second ballot, Mr Atmore explained his position on such ;. question in the following terms:— Ho had refused to give tho pledgo before and ho also refused now; He wanted to be able to say now that nobody could control him except the member for Nelson! and his constituents. He had been asked by the Opposition organiser how he would vote on a no-coniidence motion if it wero brought forward and tabled as soon as the House assembled. Ho at once asked Mr Martin on what ground tho motion was to h"e brought down. The other replied, "Just a vote of | noconlidence." Ho had told the organiser straight out that if lie was asked was ho in favour of the continuance of tho Government's administration without any dejinito ground being stated in connection with land tenure, or anything lileo that, he would vote straight out against the Opposition. He would consider the people's interests first. If on the other hand a motion was tabled expressing'" no confidence in the Government in connection with .its land policy, he would vote on the principle of the question, and if the Government fell lie would not care, if they eumo in conflict with principle. He reiterated that if tho motion was an abstract one and nothing definite was urged against the Government his .support would not bo with the motion. The member for Nelson therefore could not, as we have said on several occasions when Opposition expectations of numbering him among tho fold ran high, support a no-confidence motion couched in the terms in which Mr Massey's challenge was tabled, without violation of bis explicit deniu". of such intention. The circumstance? of Mr Atmore's candidature, and thy position of parties in the House which magnified tho importance of every vote about which any uncertainty existed, made it inevitable that into whichever lobby lie went' his action would bring odium upon him from one section or tho-other. Ho must at least, however, be awarded the merit of having abided by tho only obligation he submitted himself to. The :,=- ---.suit of the diwsioi!, perilously narrow though i e i, e ; am ply'■ 'justifies tho course Sir Joseph 'Wr.rd elected jo take in .holding office until his party was successfully challenged in Parliament, in spito of tho Opposition chequer about the "docisivo defeat of Wardism," „,„] that "magnificent victory" for which Mr M afcS »y return- «} to tho country liis grateful thanks. We may now look for a truce until thf ordinary possioi) in June, whon tho J-il'rnil-J, we twsf,, will be rcinforci'd by liio,presence in big aopuptomed place of Mr. \Yllfoi\l.