NO CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 177, 29 July 1896, Page 2

NO CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Just before the Speaker left the chair at half-past five the Leader of the Opposition gave notice of the following motion for Friday next : -That tho administration of the Government has ueen unsatisfactory ; that while they have proposed to have abstained from borrowing, the pnblio debt has inoieaaed between 31st March, 1891, and 31st March, 1896, by £4,928,681 ; That in seizing the sinking funds of the local bodies they have deserted the inten ion of the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and they have used for the purpose of revenue the capital eums Bpeoially provided by the ratepayers for tho purpose of paying their loans, and are depleting the Land Transfer Assurance Funds for a similar purpose ; That the alteration in the Customs Excise Duties Act, 1895, passod by the Government, has imposed further taxation upon the people and increased the oharges Upon the necessities of life. The Premier at once rose to say that the motion was one or a direct wantofconfidence in the Government, and he could not proceed with business till it was disposed of. He charged Capt. Russell with tabling it so that members who bad not got ia their speeches of the financial debate could now make them. Capt. Kussell retorted that he was not surprised at tho manner in which the motion had been treated— (laughter). He had asked that it be taken on Friday so as not to interfere with the privileges of private members. However, in response to the wishes of the leader of the House he would move at half-past two the following day| In moving the adjournment of the House till that hour the Piemier said the allusion to sinking funds was a species of bird lime to catch one or two members. The motion for the adjournment was unanimonsly agreed to. Later. Mr Maslin,jon behalf of the left wing, moved as an amendment to Capt. Russell's no-confidence motion the omission of all words save as confiscation sinking fundß looal bodies. Despite- thefact that the Banking Committee adjournod, most of the permanent oommittees sat to-day, the Speaker having stated that they had the power. In reply to queries, he said that there was no necessity of their adjourning, because the no confidence motion is pending.