POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2677, 6 December 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

AN INTERESTING WEEK.

(Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The week that has just ended has been the most interesting one of the session, inasmuch as it Pas brought about more independent criticism of the Government, and an emphatic defeat of the Administration on its Estimates. This, coming on top of a couple of defeats the previous week on the State Guaranteed Advances Bill as to whether the sinking fund of local bodies’ loans not guaranteed by the State should be handed over to the Public Trustee for investment in Government securities, emphasises the change in the views of members which has been gradually taking place during the currency of the session. It will be remembered that the Government’s proposal was negatived by a majority of two, and when an attempt was t|| made by the recommittal of the Bill to reinstate the clause, it_ wa s again negatived by a similar majority. Th© Premier received the rebuff with every appearance of chagrin, but bowed to the will of the majority. The further - humiliation of the Government took place last night, when the itemon the Estimates of £4OO for the Hon. W. P. Reeves, late High Commissioner, as London financial adviser to th© Government, was struck out by a majority of ten. The deletion of jhft item was moved by Mr. Massey, LiWWr of the Opposition, and according to constitutional practice such a motion is usually accepted ns a “vote of no confidence,” but the Premier accepted the position in silence. The usual motion from the head of the Government under such circumstances “That the House adjourn to enable the Government to. consider the position,” was apparently not even thought of- It is stated in extenuation of the Government’s attitude that the Hon. W. PReeves is not a persona grata with the Government or its supporters, ana that the latter were given a free hand on the question of the vote, hut that contention seems incompatible with the appearance of the vote on the Estimates, except it were possible to imagine that it had been set dovin by way of compliance with a reluctant promise, and defeated by means which could not be credited to any Government. It has to be assumed, therefore, that the vote was defeated on its merits, and it is noteworthy that ten Government supporters and two Independents, with Government leanings, took part in the defeat of the Government. . . ~ , The mixing up of parties m the yoting lists of late is somewhat puzzling, but the tendency appears to be m favor of a gradual breaking away from tlie dominance of the head oi the Government. One .may reasonably predict- lively times ere the close c. the session. =====