NEW SOUTH WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10216, 9 December 1893, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES.

A POLITICAL CRISIS. [Special to Press Association.! SYDNEY, Dec. 8. Tiie Government having decided to take Mr Lee’s motion with reference to Mr Barton holding a brief from Mr Proudfoot in hie action against the Railway Commissioners, in the ordinary way, Mr Lee sought to gain his end by moving the adjournment of the House last night, in order to discuss the matter. A long debate followed, resulting in the defeat of the Government by 69 to 48. The Premier said that the attack was not upon Mr Barton but upon the Government, and declared that 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 House this afternoon with the Government’s intentions. After the House adjourned, Mr Reid, leader of the Opposition, expressed the opinion that the Government would remain in office until -the electors repeated last night’s dose. Mr M’Millan was also interviewed, and ho thought the best course the Government could pursue was to pass the Estimates, and go to the country as soon as the electoral machinery could be pat in Older. The debate itself was rather tame, and ended unexpectedly. The Sydney Morning Herald considers that the decision of the House shows that Mr Barton’s action admits of no argument, but, that disapprobation of it should not have involved the downfall of the Ministry. It attributes the result more to the tactics of the Government in baulking discussion ou Mr Lee’s motion. The Daily Telegraph saya that when Mr Lee, by« sort of coup d’dtat, placed himself suddenly and inexplicably in command of the Opposition, he scored an admitted success, but proved dismally unequal to the responsibility, and plunged the country into a political chaos unprecedented in the history of the Colony, and that the way out of it it is impossible at the present time to foresee. A vote of confidence, if moved immediately, would show whether the real object of the House was to vindicate a principle or precipitate a crisis. What makes the present political crisis unique is the fact that the old Electoral Act has ceased to exist, while the new Act providing for single eears and the principle of one-mau-one-vote is not yet in operation. The machinery of the Act is now being prepared, and it is possible that it will be February before; any election can be held. Therefore, in the event of a new Government being formed, there is no machinery to re-elect the members to their seats on taking office. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. Sir G. R. Dibbs said he regarded last night’s vets as a snatch one. He announced that shortly after the crucial division was taken he received the resignations by Messrs Barton and O’Connor of their respective portfolios in the Hmi/.try,' and had he (Sir G. R. D:bbs) consulted his own personal desires, he would also have resigned immediately, but be felt that a change of Government at the present time would bring about confusion and chacs. The Cabinet had not yet decided what action it Would take with regard to the two resignations. At the close of his speech Sir G. E. Dibba placed a proclamation proroguing Parliament till January 16 in the hands of the Speaker, and remarked that they would then see whether the country was for or against the Government.' Mr G. H. Raid', leader of the Opposition, speaking ou the subject after Sit G. E. Dibbs’ announcement, said that a trick had ■ been played upon the Governor and an insult offered to the Speaker because the Legislative Assembly had prorogued before the Speaker took the chair, and consequently the House had no right to meet as had been done. At an Opposition caucus to-day general satisfaction was expressed that the Government had decided to go to the country ratherthan place the responsibility of forming a Government on the shoulders of the Opposition, but exception was taken to the manner in which the Government had acted. Some members present blamed the Governor for showing a partisan spirit.