ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14616, 17 March 1921, Page 5

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

AMENDMENT DEFEATED AYES 25, NOES 39. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON., Wednesday. The House resumed the Address-ill-Roply debute early this afternoon. The speakers came from the Liberal benches, and all supported Mr Wilfonl's amendment, their argument being that Mr Massey ought to attend the Imperial Conference, but that Parliament, should proceed with the business of the country .during his absence. Mr Massey indicated that, wool and meat freights and finance were among the matters that would receive his attention in London. He did not believe that the low prices for meat would continue very long, but he recognised that the cost of getting meat fo market must be reduced. He would raise a loan not exceeding £5,000,000 abroad if that could be arranged. Referring to Imperial matters, Mr Massey said his idea was the creation of an Imperial executive, consisting of the Prime Ministers of the Empire and representatives of the great dependencies. This executive could handle the foreign policy of the Empire, and control the issues of peace and war, and would be responsible to the Parliaments of the Empire. The complete autonomy of every portion of the Empire must be preserved. The Division List. The division on Mr Wilford's amendment was reached at 11 p.m. It followed party lines, the Labour and Independent members mostly voting with the Liberals. The amendment, was defeated by 39 votes to 25, the list being as follows: For the Amendment (25). —Messrs Atmtore, Bartram, Edie, Forbes, Fraler, Hanan, Holland, Horn, Howard, Isitt, Jennings, Killett, McCombs, Masters, Mitchell, Parry, Savage, Seddon, Sidey, S. G. Smith, Statham, Sullivan. Veitch, Wilford, and Witty. Against the Amendment (39). — Messrs Anderson, Bitehener, Bollard, Brown, Burnett, Coates, Craig, J. S. Dickson, Field, Glenn, Guthrie, A. Hamilton, J. R. Hamilton, Harris, Hawken, Hockly, Hunter, Jones, Lee, Luke, Lysnar, McLeod, McNicol, Mandcr, Massey, Nash, A K. Newman, NoswoTthy, Parr, Pomare, Potter, R. H. Rhodes, T. W. Rhodes, Stewart, Sykes, Uru, Williams, Wright, and Young. Pairs. —For the amendment: Messrs Ngata, Thaekcr, R. W. Smith, and McGallum. Against the amendment: Messrs Henare, Campbell, E. Newman, and Herries. Two members of the Reform Party, Messrs Malcolm and J. M. Dickson, did not vote, while another Government member, Mr Reed, was absent without pair. The House adjourned at 11 p.m. until 10.30 a.m.