The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1899. DEFEAT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and Echo.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1899. DEFEAT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTRY.

For the cause that lacks assistance, Por the -wrong that needs resistance, For the faturo in the distance, And the good that we can do.

It is the fate of all Ministries under Responsible Government to fall, sooner or later, and the defeat of Mr Reid's Ministry in NeAV South Wales does not come as a surprise. The largeness of the adverse majority would be remarkable but for the fact that the result is attributable to a transfer of the Labour vote from the Ministerial to ihe Opposition side of the House. Prior to the elec-

lions in July of last year Mr Reid had an overwhelming majority of about thirty, and could dispense Avith the Labour support. The chief issue at the elections Avas Federation, and Mr Reid's attitude on that question. Avas considered so unsatisfactory that a compact Federalist party numbering 57 votes entered Parliament under the leadership of Mr Barton. To cope with these the Premier had a

party of 03, including 18 Labour representatives, Avhose support Avas uncertain, and five members were returned as Independent. Mr Reid realised that a substantial majority of the country desired Federation, and at once set himself to discover a means of satisfj-ing- the. popular AA-ish without compromising his, former attitude. In this he succeeded, but his position in Parliament was very insecure, and his Ministry narroAvly escapod defeat on more than one

occasion

The transaction Avhich ultimately Avrecked the -Ministry Avas the pay-

ment of £350 to Mr Neild, a member of Parliament, for a report on Old Age Pensions. Mr Barton, who led the. Opposition at the elections —Mr Lyne, the former leader, and an antiFederationist.standing aside —assumed the leadership when Parliament assembled. Hei was unwilling, however, to move a vote of want-of-con-fidence in the Government on the ground that it might complicate some Federal arrangements, especially those relating lo fiscal matters. It is said, hoAvever, that rivalry exists betAveen Mr Barton and Mr Reid in relation to the Premiership ol* the Commonwealth when Federation takes effect. At any rate, Mr Lyne assumed his position as Leader of The Opposition, and submitted a motion of censure upon the Government, making the Neild incident his chief ground of attack. In formulating his charge in collection with this matter Mr Lyne said: — Mr O'Sullivan, in July, IS9C>, asked the Premier, "Is it a fact that he has given a roving commission to the hon. member for Paddington to inquire into the system of old age pensions in Europe; and, if so, is it to be distinctly understood that no expense is to be incurred to the State?" To that Mr Reid replied, "With reference to the subject of the question, I desire to say that the hon. member for Paddington, who i* about to visit England, has been empowered by the Government to make such inquiry, but he has consented to do that without the slightest remuneration, either in the Avay of allowance for expenses or otherwise. He Avill do so without the slightest expense to the Government." Time went on and Mr Neild Avent | away in a private capacity in 'connection with some land matter in

the Northern Territory. Whefn he Avas going to Great Britain, he Avent to the. Prime Minister, and not only agreed with him, as I presume he did, that he. should receive no compensation for his expenses in connection with the report-, but I presume Avhat he Ava.nted Avas what I may call the hall mark of the Government of this country to enable him to approach certain persons, and go to certain places, which otherwise he Avould not be entitled to do. (Cheers.) The hon. member for Paddington then received a com mission from the Prime Minister, and at the time I thought that that was all he was obtaining to enable him to present, himself to certain people and in certain places that, he could not possibly get ,to under other circumstances. At the conclusion of his report, .Mr Neild says:—"l have now completed my arduous task, which, f undertook at my own charge, Avithoiit hope of rcAvartl, save that Avhich comes from a sense of useful Avork honestly done in the interests,of poor humanity." That clause shows that Mr Neild should not have received sixpence. On November 17, IS9S, the Colonial Secretary, in answer to questions by ilr Chanter, said that no expense had been incurred in procuring this report. Yet, on January 19, we find that Mr Reid paid to Mr Neild £350. When the distribution of the Treasurer's advance for January came out 1 looked to see whether I could find Mr Neild's name; but the matter was so smothered that it Avas impossible to delect who received the money. It Avas shown as having been paid in connection with old age pensions, charities, and State insurance. When "Mr Carruthers, in reply to Mr Edden, stated that this money had been paid to Mr Neild, the Premier tried to make a point of the fact that because no agreement Avas made with Mr Neild before he went to Great Britain, and the money AA'as paid after he came back, the Government, Avas not censurable for its action. To-night it has been stated that Mr A Teild has repaid the money. The report Avhich has been presented to-night, seems to be of the "Yes—no" order. If that report is correct, Avhy has the money been repaid? If Mr Neild Ava.s justified in receiving the money he should stand to his position, and retain the money. If he is not justified in receiA'ing the money, the report is wrong, and there has been a violation of the spirit of the Constitution. ,

The Labour Party individually were not united as to tho wisdom of putting the Reid Ministry out over this payment. They have extorted from the Government a number of the measures comprised in their pror gramme, and Mr Lyne can only obtain a continuance of their aid on similar terms, but he is not quite so dependent on their votes as was the defeated GoA-ernment. The final decision to cast the Labour vote for Mr Lyne's motion was only arrived at on the eve of the division by a majority of 10 to 8, the minority submitting in accordance Avith an agreement they have made to giA-e influence and solidarity to the Labour phalanx. Mr Lyne has already virtually pledged himself to go as far with the Labour Party as Mr Reid has done, and he says he Avill even go a step further with the Early Closing Bill. He has also stated that nothing Avill be done by him to upset the verdict of the country on the subject of Federation. He considers that amendments of the Constitution are needed, but these must not be made by the Federal Parliament; the verdict of the country must stand. Mr

Lyne is also pledged not to introduce any changes in the fiscal system of the colony during- the continuance of the present Parliament. Accord-

ling to our cable despatches this afternoon there are rumours abroad that Mr Reid will endeavour to secure n dissolution, but it is not very apparent what reasons justifying such a course lie Avill be able to press upon

the notice of His Excellency the Gpve-

nor. Mr Reid took office as Premier in 1894, so that his reign has lasted about five years.