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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIIi, Issue 11688, 5 July 1890, Page 2

It appears that although the " snatch " division of Wednesday afternoon only revealed a majority of six for tho Government, the real majority is just about double that number, and that notwithstanding the temporary defection of Messrs Barron and Uoldie the number who voted with Mr Ballance was 32, to whom must be added 8 whose pairs weie acknowledged, making a total of 40 for the Opposition. For the Government the votes recorded numbered 38. making, with the 8 pairs, a total of 40. This accounts for 84 members out of a total of 95. Of the nine absentees from the division, the Speaker, Sir Maurice O'Rorko, can hardly be claimed by either side; Mr Mills, the member for Port Chalmers, who is at present in England, is a strong Government supporter, but the Opposition are credited with declining to "pair" him; Mr Parata, one of the M-Tori. memburs, declined to vote for either party, and walked out of the House. The remaining sixMessrs Buchanan; Hamlin, T. McKenzie, Menteath, Orniond, and Pyke— avo all Government supporters ; but they never expected the debate to collapse as suddenly as it did, and were absent from the House, at any rate from tho Chamber, when then division bell rang. It will be seen from the above that, the six of a majority who actually recorded their votes in favour of the Government, have to be added to six who were absent without pairing when the division waR taken. It is probable that, at the close of the present debate, the party whips will tako care to have all their men on hand, so that the division may disclose more accurately the real strength of parties.