A SUDDEN SQUALL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 752, 30 July 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

A SUDDEN SQUALL.

{From the New Zealand Times, July 27. A want-of-confidence motion has again been suddenly precipitated. ¥e intimated yesterday that an amendment to the second reading of the Loan Bill would probably be proposed for the purpose of enabling Opposition, members who had spoken already to reply to subsequent speeches. That amendment was moved last evening by Mr G. F. Bichardson. It proved to be of such a character as to set the House ablaze in an instant. In effect it called on the Government to take back and recast their Public Works proposals as set forth in the schedule to the Loan Bill, and refused the second reading of the Bill until that should have been done. The Premier promptly accepted this as a no-confidence motion, and it is not easy to see how he could have done otherwise without a sacrifice of dignity. At the same time, it is as little easy to see in other way the Opposition could have moved toward making the alteration which they desired in the loan schedule. Had it been merely the excisioa of the Tophouse and Inangahua lines that was sought, this could of course have been compassed by striking out those jitems in committee. But more than this is aimed at. It is desired to transfer the money saved on those lines to other works on which it is contended it can be more beneficially employed. The rules of Parliament, however, do not permit any vote to be increased in committee, although any may be reduced, so that practically members were debarred from raising the question of transferring sums unless by incurring the responsibility of endangering a Ministerial crisis. The Opposition party decided to face that contingency, and to move the amendment at all hazards. Its earliest result was to elicit from the Premier one of the most magnificent orations ever heard in that chamber. It was in truth, as Major Atkinson described it, a most “ eloquent and powerful speech,” and served once more to accentuate the determination with which Sir Bobert Stout has this session sustained his rightful position as leader of the House and head of the Government. His singular skill as a debater was never more manifest than in the ingenuity with which he contrived to find a weak place in the armour of each Opposition speaker, while he cleverly evaded the strong points. Still more remarkable was the frankness with which he enunciated a policy widely distinct from that of his colleagues, the Treasurer and the Minister for Public Works on the important question of borrowing and of railway boards. He hit some members very hard by taunting them with their professions of economy coupled with demands for increased expenditure in their own localities. In most that Sir Bobert Stout said we most heartily concur, especially in his advocacy of economy in the use of borrowed money, and his outspoken declaration that borrowing must 30on cease althog ether. also go with him in the greater part of his remarks relative to railway management. Indeed, these followed very closely the line of our observations on that subject in yeiterday’a

issue. The Premier echoed our demand for specific details of the alleged railway mismanagement. These have not yet been forthcoming.' Vague allegations have been plentiful enough, but no specific charges are formulated. Sifted, the complaints always resolve themselves either into claims for additional conveniences—which mean increased expenditure—or for reduced rates —which means diminished revenue. While, however, we go with the Premier thus far, we must record our strenuous protest against other parts of his speech. His vi e w th at th ePal m erston-W o o d v ille line through the Manawatu Gorge ought not to be made until Masterton and Woodville should have been connected is utterly unreasonable and indefensible, as was shown conclusively by Major Atkinson, who pointed out that tbe Masterton-Woodville line, when completed, could never be the main route from. ‘Wellington to Auckland and Napier, being so much longer and heavier a road. We agree also with Major Atkinson in strongly condemning the preposterous proposal to charge on the North Island Kail way Loan the cost of purchasing Native lands. The Premier’s very weak plea, “ Where else can I take it from?” is surely no justification for diverting a loan which the Government stand distinctly pledged to “earmark ” for its specific object. In these and other respects Major Atkinson who followed the Premier in a vigorous and telling speech, scored heavily. The discussion has assumed a new and interesting phase.