NEW SOUTH WALES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 291, 8 December 1893, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

A GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

AN EXTRAORDINARY COMPLICATION.

Sydney, this day. The Government, deciding to take M" Lee's motion with reference to Mr Barton holding a brief from Mr Proudfoot, in tho action again the Railway Commissioners, in the ordinary way, Mr Lee sought to gain his end by moving the adjournment of the House last nighb, in order to discuss the matter. A long debate followed, and resulted in the defeat of the Government by 69 to 48. The Premier said the attack was not upon Mr Barton, bub upon the Government, and declared he was quite prepared to abide by the result. The situation will be considered in Cabinet to-day, and the Premier will probably meet the Hou*e this afternoon with a statement as to the Government's intentions. After the House adjourned, Mr Reid, Leader of the Opposition, expressed an opinion that the Government would remain in office until the electors repeated last night's doae. Mr McMillan was also interviewed, and he thought the best course bhe Government could pursue was bo pass bhe Estimates and go to bhe country as soon as the electoral machinery could bo pub in order. The debate itself was rather dull, and ended unexpectedly. The " Sydney Morning Herald" conaiders the decision of the House shows that Mr Barton's action admits of argument, bub says disapprobation should nob have involved the downfall of the Ministry. It attributes result more bo bhe tactics of the Governmenb in baulking discussion on Mr Lee's motion. The " Daily Telegraph " says, when Mr Lee by a sorb of coup d'etat, placed himself suddenly and inexplicably in command of bhe Opposition, ho scored an admitted success, but proved dismally unequal to his responsibility, and plunged bhe country inbo political chaos unprecedented in the history of the colony. Tho way oub ib is impossible ab tho present bime to foresee. A vote of wantof-conSdence, if moved immediately, would show whether the real object of the House was to vindicate the principle or precipitate a crisis.