The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1923. THE FIRST DEFEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17014, 12 April 1923, Page 6

The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1923. THE FIRST DEFEAT.

The defeat of the Conservative Government, led by Mr Bonar Law, in r. snap division in the House of Commons has created a piquant political situation. It is the custom of the Opposition in the House of Commons in order to make an .opportunity to discuss a .subject, topical or otherwise. These motions are not brought forward as want of confidence proposals, and are usually negatived “ on the voices ” and without going to a division when the matter under notice has been sufficiently ventilated. On this occasion the motion for the adjournment followed on the refusal of the Government to grant an inquiry into the salaries of former temporary clerks —a matter about which the country knows nothing and cares less. The Opposition, however, saw an opportunity of scoring a point and dealing a blow to the prestige of the Government by going to a divi sion. The Government whips, confident in the knowledge that their party has a. majority over all possible combinations, were asleep, while the Labour whips, who must have seen the possibilities of the situation, were very wide awake. The Opposition carried the motion to r.djourn by 158 to 1-15, a vote of 303 members out- of a total House of 615. Undoubtedly it was a nasty jar, but it would be easy to exaggerate its political significance. The division was a “snap’’ one, and the fact that the Government was in a minority does not dispose of the other fact that it has a clear majority of the House. The party situation at present is;

The Government therefore has a clear majority of 73 over all the Opposition groups, and it is not likely to regard the. adverse vote as a direction to it to resign. The effect of the motion seems to be rather doubtful. There seems to have been a disposition to regard it as ending the current session, in which ease the House would go into ■icc-ess until the formality of calling it together again could be completed. The Speaker, however, takes the view that a way out is open, and that the Government should he given an opportunity on Thursday to create a situation which, will be more to its liking The incident cannot be at all pleasing to .Mr Konat' Law and his Ministers, who have been called upon to sustain futile very hard knocks since the General Election. The Government received an absolute majority of 79 seats at the i>olls. but it lias met disaster at the by-elections. Three of its Ministers failed to secure election at the General Election, and they also failed to win when “safe” seats were found lov them to contest at by-elections. Th- Government majority was thus reduced from 79 to 73. and 1 He Labour Party, which is the official Opposition, has gained three seats. "While the defeat of the Government may be fairlv attributed to an accident or carelessness. the Government will not be at all comfortable. The loss of seats, followed by a reverse in the House, docs not help a Government, especially when ihat Government does not represent a majority of the people. There is meleflection which should appeal to local politicians. Tf Mr Bonar Law, with majority of 73, cannot avoid defeat, how is Mr Massey, with a microscopical and less reliable majority, going to struggle through three sessions?

Conservatives . 344 Labour . . . , . 141 Liberals . 60 National Liber; als .* * . 68 Other Opposite onists 12 615