END OF NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15393, 9 July 1914, Page 6

END OF NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Tic no-confidenec debaie ended lust nig-lit, one or two days earlier tmm tlie prophets had predicted, in the defeat of the Opposition which was a foregone conclusion from its commencement. Sir Joseph Ward moved his amendment last Tuesday week, and after the Hon. -James Allen had replied effectively to his attack upon the Government its interest was practically exhausted. The debate was treated s<> cheaply by the Government that, after Mr Allen's speech, only one Minister, the Hon. TT. Eraser, thought it worth while to reply to the confused charges or the Opposition. Mr Massey, whose Government might be supposed to be in the balance, did not trouble to make any contribution to the debate. Nominally the amendment was defeated by only five votes; but ihe Hon. •T .V. Millar, who voted wiih the lie form Party against the Mackenzie Government, was prevented by indisposition from being present, and through a misunderstanding as to pairs the Government lost the vote of Mr Clark, member for Chalmers, who was also absent. Ihe state of parties in the House, therefore. treating the Speaker, who doi-s not vole, as a Government member, is as follows: Government I! Opposition •'!<' Labour ti giving the Government a majority of eight over the two other

combined parties. It would be) difficult to argue that the debate promoted by the Leader of the Opposition was worth while fur the sake of revealing this position. I-or the electors of Timaru ic must have some interest in revealing that their member. M 'ho did not speak during tho debate but voted in last night's division, has no confidence in the present. Government, which is more than he has ever told them from the platform. If members '""ho have spoken on Sir Joseph Ward's amendment choose to exercise their right to spealc again now on the original motion, the Address-in-Reply Debate may be drawn out much longer than would have been practicable otherwise.