ENGLISH NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 107, 4 June 1853, Page 1

ENGLISH NEWS.

(From the Neio Zealander and Independent.') By the " Moa" and the " Algerine" we have received Sydney papers containing important intelligence from England. The news claiming our first attention is the downfall-of the Derby Ministry, and the induction to office of a Coalition Cabinet, with the Earl of Aberdeen as Premier. The " Atlas" of the Bth Dec. says, " The last fortnight has been one of great political excitement — Ministers having been brought to vote a distinct resolution in favour of the Free Trade policy of the country, and Mr. Disraeli having brought forward his long looked-for Budget. " Mr. Villiers moved the resolution in favour of Free Trade, to which Ministers proposed an amendment ; but Lord Palmerston having proposed another amendment, which, though declaring Free Trade to be essential to the prosperity of the country, was worded so as to save the Protectionists the humiliation of voting in favour of the original Free Trade resolution, the Government withdrew their amendment, and Lord Palmerston's was eventually carried." Mr. Villiers's resolution was as follows :—: — " That it is the opinion of this House that the improved condition of the country, and especially that of the industrious classes, is mainly the result of recent legislation, and especially of the Act of 1846, by which was established the free admission of foreign corn ; and that that Act was therefore a wise, a just, and a benificent measure. That it is the opinion of this House that the maintenance and further extension of the policy of Free Trade, as opposed to that of Protection, will best enable the industry and prosperity of the nation to bear the burthens to which they are exposed, and will contribute most to the welfare and prosperity of the people. That this House is ready to take into consideration any measure consistent with the resolution that may be laid before it by her Majesty's Ministers." Lord Palmerston's amendment was to the following effect : — " That it is the opinion of this House that the improved condition of the country, and es-

pecially of the industrious classes, is mainlythe result of recent legislation, which has established the principle of unrestricted competition, and abolished taxes imposed for purposes of Protection, and has thereby diminished the cost and increased the abundance of the principle articles of food to the people. That it is the opinion of this House, that that policy, firmly maintained and prudently extended, will best enable the industry of the country to bear its burdens, and will thereby most assuredly promote the welfare and contentment of the people. That this House will be ready to take into consideration any measures consistent with those principles which, in pursuance of Her Majesty's gracious speech and recommendation, may be laid before it." The debate was brought to a conclusion at 1 o'clock, when the house divided, and the numbers were— For Mr. Villiers's resolution 256 -, against, 336 ; majority against, 80. Another division was taken on the amendment, and the numbers were — For Lord Palmerston's amendment, 468; against, 53; majority for,4Ls. The political manoeuvre by which Lord Palmerston contrived to save the ministry from defeat on Mr. Villiers's motion on the 26th Nov. had given Mr. Disraeli the opportunity of making his financial statement, which otherwise would have been smothered at its birth. None of the leading supporters of Mr. Villiers's resolution wished for. this result, for the House and I the country were naturally anxious to know something of the details of the comprehensive financial scheme, which has been so long promised as a satisfactory adjustment of all difficulties created by recent commercial legislation — and w-hich is not only to satisfy the Protectionists but the Free-traders also. On the 3rd December the Chancellor of the ! Exchequer made his financial statement, which 1 lasted between five and six hours, the main features of which were as follows : — The Malt Tax and the Hop Duty were each to be reduced one-half, by which a loss of revenue would be caused 'of nearly £2,000,000 a year. To make up this deficiency, the House Tax was to be doubled ; shops were to be charged Is. in the pound instead of 6d. ings were to pay Is. 6d. in the pound instead of 9d. j and the limit of exemption was to extend so as to include all houses, whether shops or dwellings, rated at £10 a year. The In- ! come Tax was to be extended to all whose ' yearly gains by trade or labour amounted to { £100 a year; and to all whose incomes were derived from property in lands or houses, amounting to £50 a year. Industrial incomes were henceforth to be only charged, however, 2 per cent., while those to be derived from property, were to remain as now chargeable with 3. The duty on Tea was to be gradually l reduced in the course of seven years from 2s. 4d|. per pound to Is. In 1853, 4^d. was to be taken off, and every successive year 2d. until 1860. No change was to be made in the Poor Law charges, or in the Sugar duties. A large addition to the Army and Navy was to be proposed immediately. The division which decided the fate of the Derby Ministry took place on the 16th December, or to speak more correctly, on the morning of the 17th, the vote not being taken till about half-past 3 a.m. The Budget had been discussed during four previous nights, and was more and more damaged with every handling. It suffered at first almost as much from its defenders as from its assailants. They talked, but they would have done better service by holding their tongues. Until this important and testing debate took place, the public did not clearly know what a set of mere sticks and harmless automatons all the members of the Cabinet, or at least all those in the Commons, except Disraeli, really were. He indeed, on the closing night, made a remarkable speech, evincing talent enough to furnish half-a-dozen ordinary brains. But it also displayed an inordinate endowment of the qualities which phrenologists designate as combai tiveness and destructiveness. In fact, he was ! in a terrible bad temper, and one time fairly ran a-muck, stabbing at his opponents right and left. He said of Sir James Graham that " he did not so much respect him, as he greatly regarded him ;" he told Sir Charles Wood (who had been particularly severe upon the Budget) that " petulance was not criticism, and insolence was not invective." He compared solemn Mr. Goulbourn to " a wierd sybil giving forth an oracle." Then he made the country gentlemen roar with laughter at some not over refined allusions. In short, he kept the house for three hours in a tumult of excitement by a very brilliant, powerful, and sarcastic speech, and (Continued in the Fourth Page.) '

I,