Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1879. THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 96, 1 August 1879, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1879. THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

4 The debate on the no confidence motion ended on Tuesday last, at 4 o'clock, and resulted in the defeat of the Government by 14 votes, the numbers being as follows— For the Government, 33 j against 47. After tho no-confidenc amendment had been carried, Mr liislop moved a further amendment as follows : — That this House also thinks it right to add that the foregoing opinion has been arrived at in the absence of official papers or information on the several subjects in regard to which your advisers aro alleged to have been guilty of maladministration and neglect. Upon this a short debate occurred, during which Mr Kees slashed all the members who had " ratted " from Sir Geoi'»e Grey's party. Sir George also made a vigorous dofence of his action as Premier. The amendment of Mr Hislop was lost on the voices, after which the House adjourned until Wednesday. It is understood that Sir George Grey does not intend at present to go out of office, on the ground that the Parliament, as at present constituted, does not represent the views of the people on the great political questions of the day. He has asked for a dissolution from the Governor, and has sent to Sir Hercules Robinsou a statement of the grounds for his request. The poli* tical situation is therefore at present rather a mixed one. We think Sir _ir George Grey, attei the vote of Tuesday, should have resigned tit once. The attempt to cling still to office is sure to do both him and his p ivty injury in the eyes of the Country. A general election just now, before the new Electoi*al Bill is passed, and the Kedistiibution of Seals made, would not represent the viesvs of the country, and would necessitate a second general election after the passing ot the Bill defining the boundaries of the new electoral districts}.