NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9123, 3 August 1888, Page 5

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE

A SURPRISE MOTION. THE REPRESENTATION ACT. IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Late this afternoon, Mr. Walker (senior Opposition whip) sprung a mine oil the Government by intercepting Supply, with an amendment to the effect that the new Representation Act should be suspended from coming l into operation till the census of the colony was taken. The motion was quite a surprise, the leaders of the Opposition not having taken the rank and file into their confidence. At the dinner adjournment , immediately after the notice had been given, a Cabinet meeting was hastily convened, and a decision come to to treat the motion as a no-confidence motion, and the whips, Mr. MacGregor and Major Jackson, were speedily getting about the lobbies. The result of the " whip" was to lead the Government to believe that they had a clear majority. So sudden was the move of the Opposition that a number of members who were going to a ball at the residence of a Wellington notable had to be hastily summoned to their post. The Major has now his war-paint 011, and ]. understand in the unlooked-for event of being outvoted, the Premier will ask for a dissolution from His Excellency, and appeal to the country. The Ministry believe that they have a constitutional right to such a dissolution, and that it will be granted, their claim being that the Act was duly passed last session by a decisive majority, and that, the country had given no manifestation of its disapproval of the measure in the interim. In the event of dissolution, the elections would be under the new Representation Act, and the electorates re-adjusted, a procedure which would give the "happy despatch" to over a score of representatives. Mr. Walker, in support of his amendment, said the proposal to reduce the number of members was the result of panic legislation, and the House had suffered a recovery." The Premier, in his reply, was thoroughly warmed-up, and spoke effectively. He said the amendment was intended to give the Ministry a kick towards Chicago, and his reply was that he was ready to go to a division and accept the consequences. Messrs. Turnbull and Taylor, who spoke next, evidently struck the right key-note when they said they were not going to be dragged across the floor of the House unconsulted, in order that certain members of the Opposition might climb to office. The country was clamouring to have its business transacted instead of witnessing a struggle for office and power. The frequent "hear, hears" from various parts of the House showed these sentiments found a response in many breasts.

Later. At half-past seven the Government whips declared a clear majority for the Government, excluding all doubtful votes. As the debate went on, it was clear that the leaders of the Opposition had made one of those blunders which is worse than a crime, and when the members of the Opposition got up in succession and kicked over the traces, declaring their intention to vote against the amendment, the issue was no longer doubtful; and the panic which set in threatened to make the whole movement a fiasco. Mr. Verrall, the latest accession to the ranks of the Opposition, made the most laconic speech of the session. It consisted of a single sentence, "I shall vote against the amendment, for I fail to see the use of changing the captain and officers of the ship so often." The dissatisfaction of the rank and file at not being consulted had begun to work, and when the supper adjournment arrived, affairs began again to look rosy for the Ministerialists. An interchange of amenities took place between Major Jackson and Mr. Moss just after the supper adjournment. Before midnight the Government forced on a division, and, amid cries of "Question," the amendment was put from the chair. Mr. McGregor, the senior Government whip, challenged a division, and of course had to vote with the Opposition. It was seen at once from the line which streamed into the " noes " lobby that the Opposition were beaten by two to one, the actual figures being -11 to 'JO, or, deducting Mr. McGregor's vote, 1- to 19. The result was received with cheers. Mr. Pyke, now an irreconcilable, went into the lobby with the Opposition. The "surprise" of the afternoon, a loading member of the Ministerial party informed me, was the best thing that ever happened to them. It had the effect of hardening the party, and led to secessions from the Opposition, some of them permanent .

As the night. wore on, the Government whips reckoned on a majority of from 12 to 14, hut were scarcely prepared for so decisive a triumph. It is believed that after so crushing a defeat the Opposition will now respond to the appenl of the Premier to stop the deplorable waste of time now going on, and give their serious attention to the affairs of this distracted and tax-laden country. The. members of the House who were brought in such hot haste in the early part of the evening from the gay and festive dance, sat. throughout the debate in melancholy mood in their best " bib and tucker," evidently wishing they were in another place. The House at once went into Committee of Supply after the division, and settled down to business.