WANT OF CONFIDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9912, 29 July 1910, Page 1

WANT OF CONFIDENCE.

THE MOTION REJECTED

AN UNINTERESTING DEBATE. [From Que. Oorriisfonotnt.] WELLINGTON, July 28. Ine-conclusion of tho debate'on Mr llassey s want-of-confidence motion, moved as an amendment to a motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Estimates, cam© at fifteen minutes past eight this evening, after,an argument around the subject lasting twelve hours.

The amendment was as follows: that, as the prosperity of this country depends so much upon the settlement of land, this House is of opinion that the. Legislature- should make provision this sossion for additional facilities for the occupation and most profitable use of the lands of-the Crown, (a,rby extending the optional system both to Crown and land for settlements laiKls, pud by removing every hindrance to the exercise of the option which enables the settler to take up land under the occupation with right of purchase; (b) by providing that all cssees under leaso-in-perpetuity shall have the right to purchase their freeholds at the original value, either by instalments, or otherwise, but where they have been paying 4- per cent they shall, in addition, pay such an amount as will make their' payment equivalent .to what they -would have paid had they hold their leases on a -5 per cent basis; (c) by securing the limitation of r<rea of the. freeholds so acquired; (d) by utilising the moneys derived from the sale of freeholds for the acquisition of further lands for settlement; (c) by providing for the speedier' opening up of the surplus Native lands for settlement .purposes, thereby making such lands contribute their fair share to the general and local taxation of the country.-' The debate was a listless and weary, one, participated in mostly by Opposition members, and it lacked fire throughout. To-day's contribution consisted of long speeches by Mr Scott and Mr Pearce. They were followed ■by Mr'Wright, a third Opposition member, whose speech was cut short by the adjournment. It was then no secret that an early division was desired, many members being anxious to leave Wellington earlier than usual for the week-end and to record their votes on the division. i The resumption of business found a thin house, with a strong proportion of Opposition members, and the division was nearly being taken there and then, but the junior ' Government Whip caught Mr Speaker's eye ,aiid continued the debate for half, an hour while a good deal of whipping appeared to be going on. j Th© division, resulted in the rejection ! of Mr Massey's amendment by forty-one votes to thirty-one. I The following is the division list:' — For (31) Against (41) Messrs Messrs J Allen Arnold Anderson Brown Bollard Buddo Buchanan Buxton Buiek • Carroll Dillon. Clark Divo v Colvin J. Duncan Craigie Field Davey Fisher T. Duncan Fraser Ell Guthrie ~, ..Forbes. Hardy Fowlds Herdman Glover Herries Graham Hine / Greenslade Jennings . Hall Lang Ha nan Malcolm Hogg Mander Laurenson Massoy Lawry Nosworthv Maedonald Okey * It.. M'Kenzie Pearce T. Mackenzie Phillips. Millar Rhodes Myers Ross Ngata Scott Parata G. M. Thomson Poland J.- C. Thomson £°°l e . j Wricrht Rangihiroa Reed ! Russell i Seddon Smith j .Stall worth v | Sir W. Steward E. H. Taylor T. E. Tavlor Wittv Sir J. Ward Seven members did not vote. They were Messrs Hogan,' Sidev, Luke, M Laren, Wilford, Kailmu and New-, man. The first five are regarded as Government supporters on the question, Mr Kaihau being uncertain. Messrs'Dillon, Field. Jennings, Ross and J. C. Thomson, who voted' for the amendment, are members of the Liberal Party. '