MR. MASSEY SEEKS PERSONNEL OF NEW MINISTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3463, 1 March 1912, Page 5

MR. MASSEY SEEKS PERSONNEL OF NEW MINISTRY.

\ J SIB JOSEPH WARD BADLY HECKLED IN THE COURSE OF THE “ SET TO.” PROPOSAL TO ADJOURIi TILL JUNE CARRIED. MR. VEITCH VOTES WITH THE GOVERNMENT. (From our Parliamentary Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Feb. 29.

The prorogation of Parliament was proposed by the Prime Minister this afternoon. A vigorous protest was made by the Leader of the Opposition to the suggestion that this action should be taken before the promised reconstruction of the Cabinet had been effected and the new Ministry had presented itself to the House. He declared that the Government party had secured a majority only by the Prime Minister’s pledge that the present Ministry would resign. At 4.30 p.m. the Prime Minister said that he desired to move that the- House should adjourn. The business on the Order Paper was completed. Mr. Massey: I would like to ask the Right Hon. gentleman what is intended. When will he ask the House to meet again—this afternoon, to-morrow morning, or when? The Prime Minister said he intended to ask the Governor to prorogue Parliament from now for a month and then in the ordinary way till June. Mr Massey: Then you are now pronosing prorogation ? Sir Joseph Ward assented.

where the Government had secured a majority of one vote. Messrs Forbes aud Whitty: What about Mr WiPord? Mr Massey continued that over aud over again Governments had resigned when they had majorities of four or five or six, simply _ because they had not a sufficient majority to get their legislative proposals through Parliament. The Prime Minister:' We came here to test that- point. Mr Massey: The purpose for which we came here was to place a Government on the Treasury Benches. Sir Joseph Ward: That cannot get here! Mr Massey: That was able to secure the confidence of the majority in the House of Representatives. What has happened is that the Prime Minister secured a victory upon the casting vote of the Speaker. Hon R. McKenzie: Is the Speaker not a member? Mr Hassey: Certainly, and how was the victory secured? Was it not stated in the Debate over and over, again that the Prime Minister intended to resign? It was stated by Sir Joseph Ward himself. The Prime Minister: Can that Debate be referred to? Mr Massey: Surely the two tilings go together! Mr Speaker ruled the reference out of order. Mr Massey said that it had been so stated in every newspaper in the Dominion, and upon the best possible authority.' Had that statement not been made the Government would not have been able to secure a majority even upon the easting vote of the Speaker—(Ministerial dissent). Sir Joseph Ward : The course I intended to take I took of my own volition freely and without request or suggestion from any member of the party or from anybody else (Mr Payne: Hear, hear). I made that statement freely and openly and I gave my reasons for it before the Division took place. Mr Massey declared that the House and the country were quite satisfied that the Government did not carry the confidence of the House. Sir Joseph Ward: We had a majority of the votes of the people.