CABINET STILL SAFE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17343, 16 July 1924, Page 5

CABINET STILL SAFE.

GOVERNMENT ESCAPES DEFEAT BY FOUR VOTES

After a long- debate, a division on Mr Wilford’s no-con-fidence motion was taken in the House last evening. The result was that the Reform Government escaped defeat by four votes.

Pvr Pilbju Association. WELLINGTON, July 16. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued by Mr Murdoch (Marsden). who after paying a tribue to Lord jellicoe as Governor-General, expressed the opinion that sooner or later we must provide a naval base at Singapore, otherwise ships operating in the Pacific would be rendered practically valueless, because there was no base where repairs could be effected. He drew attention to Mr Lysnar's reference ‘to the chairman of the Meat Board and to the position of the steamer Admiral Codrington. He said Mr Lysnar evidently knew something of the inner working of the Meat Board, but he had told the House either too much or too little. It r was the duty of the Government to make the strictest inquiry into the charges against the chariman of the board, and they should also ascertain why the Admiral Codrington had been taken away from New Zealand ports and put on to other routes. It was dissatisfaction about matters such as these which was giving birth to a Farmers' Party in the country, and the position needed clearing up. The Hon A. D. M’Leod delivered his first speech as Minister of Lands. The early portion of his remarks li© devoted to replying criticism ov Air Ransom (PahiatuaL’flfc'he Minister said that the Reform (“eminent had removed more taxation from the small producers of New Zealand than had any other Government that had gono before it for the hast twenty-five or thirty years- It had lieen stated by the member for Pahiatua that where the Government had removed taxation it was for the benefit of its big friends. Investigations showed that somewhere about 75 per cent of the total direct taxation of this country had been and was being collected from about 15 per cent of direct taxpayers. How could one reduce direct taxation unless that 15 per cent was effected by reduction? To reduce it for 85 per cent that only paid 25 per cent of taxation would not materially affect the large reductions in taxation that the couir try required to place it in a position to compete with other countries Mr M’llvride dealt with the question of the naval base at Singapore, detailing the reasons which lie believed were at the back of the agitation for the base, which reasons lie argued were just why the base should not be built. A Singapore base meant war, and if we were against war and in favour of international peace, then we should oppose this proposal. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

ail. Labour was the real Opposition i the House. As to his own position, h declared he was returned as an inch pendent, with one reservation, tha was that if want of confidence 5n th Government was moved by the Labou Party he would support the Govern ment. That was what he had done, be cause he had to consider country he fore party. The Government had don excellent work, and he had nothing hu praise for the Prime Alinister. who hat done such splendid service during thi dark days of the war. Air J. C. Rolleston (Waitomo') ex. pressed satisfaction of the work bein£ done in the backblocks in the interest? of education, especially in establishing combined schools. where a. highei standard of education could he obtain ed than in smaller institutions. Afr Nash declared the Govern men! had not worked strictlv on party line! but had treated all parts of the Do. minion with the utmost impartiality AIR AY ILFOR D’S A MEN DM EX T REJECTED. At the conclusion oi Air Nash’ speech a division on Mr AVilford’s no confidence amendment was taken when the voting was : For the amendment 33; against tin amendment 37. Following is the division list; - For the amendment (33). Armstrong AJMvay Bartram AT Keen Buddo Masters Corrigan Alonteiih De la .Perelle Mim.ro Edie Al urdo-b Forbes \gata Fraser Parry Ha nan Poland Holland Ransom Howard Savage Jordan Si dev Langston e Smith Lee Sullivan Lye Veitch M’ Combs Wilford MHlvride Against the amendment (37). Anderson Lysnar Led M’Leod Bitchener Macmillan Bollard Massey Coiates Nash Dickson. J. M’C. Noswortliy Dickson, J. S. Parr Eield Pomare, Sir M . Girling Potter Glenn Rhodes, Sir R. TT. Harris Rolleston, J. C. Haakon Stewart Hum a re Sykes Hockly Uru Hudson Williams Hunter Witty Tsitt AVrighfc Link later Youn<» Luke, Sir J. PAIRS. Eor: Against: Horn Rolleston, F.J. Atmore Guthrie Macpherson Rhodes. T.AV. O’Brien Burnett Mr J. C. Thomson was absent, un paired. After Mr Bitchener had briefly re plied his motion, that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency ir reply to his Excellency’s speech, was agreed to on the voices, and the debate which had run into its third week, closed. The House rose at 11.5 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The House, resumed at 7.30. ' Continuing, Mr M’llvride, discussing the living conditions of people in New Zealand, urged that the movement towards a general reduction in the wages of workers was an economic mistake, because a slight increase in wages would result in an enormous consumption of manufactured goods. Mr Harris (Waitemata'l stated that lie visited the British Empire Exhibition prior to its opening, and he considered the arrangements were admirable. The site of the New Zealand Pavilion was commanding and the exhibits appeared very suitable and attractive. He criticised the decision to abandon the Singapore base as being in the face of the best expert advice in the Empire, and the British Government had rejected that expert opinion without in any way consulting the dominions. The decision was a mistake, because the most effective provision against war was to be prepared for war. Idealistic principles we re all very well so long as everybody else was idealistic, but while other nations were arming and preparing for war it was our duty to unite in our own defence. Unfortunately the Empire was to-day not in agreement on the question of Imperial defence. Air Bell (Bay of Islands’) urged Liberals and Reformers to unite their forces against. Labour, because, after