The Ministry in the Upper House

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4999, 9 June 1891, Page 2

The Ministry in the Upper House

(by telegraph. ) (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, June 8. A prominent supporter of the Government, outside the Legislature, lias called my attention to the very serious difficulty which faces the Government in the Upper House. The Hon. P. A. Buckley stands practically alone, and I know, from other sources, that lie feels the responsibility to be more than he can bear unassisted. A very careful counting of heads shows the Government to be in a minority in the Legislative Council of from ten to fifteen votes. This is bad enough, but the Opposition position is strengthened by the recent additions made by the late Ministry in so unconstitutional a manner. All the new members are very strong partisans, and many of them are embittered by the comments of the Liberal Press upon their opponents. They include in their ranks able, experienced men, who will not only throw new life into the tottering frames of our New Zealand Lords, but will use that energy, ability, and experience to oppose Liberal legislation, and to endeavor to crush the aspirations after improvement and advancement now stirring the masses of the people. To show that this is no fancied danger, but a real and imminent one, I may mention, that the Hon. Mr Buckley has been unable to find a mover for the Address-in-Reply, and, I am positively assured, will be forced into the unprecedented position of moving it himself. Of the great bulk of the Council none are willing to move it, and of the very few Government .supporters likely to be present none are able to move it. Clearly this is a position from which the Government will have to be relieved in some way, and it only accentuates the utter want of principle which actuated the late administration in stuffing the Uuper House with the ardent partisans and representatives of the land sharks and wealth monopolisers of the colony. There is 110 doubt that the Government anticipate serious difficulties in the Upper House. To enable Mr Buckley to cope with these difficulties it is more than likely that the usual custom of the previous administrations will be followed, and a Minister without "portfolio or salary be appointed to assist the Colonial Secretary.