POLITICS 50 YEARS AGO

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 11

POLITICS 50 YEARS AGO

.DOWNFALL OF A AIINISTRY. SIR GEORGE GREY'S DEFEAT. Following a debate in tliA HoilSe of Representatives early in October, 180, a motion of want of confidence in tho Government of Sir George Grey was carried on-October 3 by 43 to 41 votes. Under the heading “The Scene in-'tho House,” th© Wellington Post described what occurred on- the day of the takong of the fateful division:— • .; “There was an oppressive feeling about the House yesterday - afternoon, like the stilling calm winch precedes an„ earthquake and impels one. to wish for the earthquake at once, so as tq get. over anti, have done> with it. . Early / terday afternoon it was known that the political earthquake, or, in othey words', the division, which was to send the Grey Ministry toppling, from their bench, would take-place some time during the evening.” .. . .■ - '" J • .■ ’■ " It bad been arranged by both srJes that, ’after MR 'J. Sheehan, .'Minister of - Native Affairs, had, spoken, there should bo no more talking,.but that the divi; .. slon should take place at once. This arrangement, however, 'was spoilt by the member for Auckland City West?. ..Rl--s—a supporter, of the Government —who appeared* •to have soni,e, mis->, givings that this might be' -his -last opportunity of addressing; the House. Amid loud and angry cries of .‘Divide’• from < both sides, he ’persisted in- .inflicting ■ long speech on the House. The only new piece of information he bad to convey was that he felt like a man with a rope round his neck, and that he had once been an inmate of a ffiental hospitaL Neither of the statements appeared to exifite the slightest surprise, and Dr. Wallis, somewhat discomfitted, proceeded to explain that the latter assertion was a joke and that when he entered the hospital in question it was as surgeon and not as a patient, , ■ Greatly to tho relief of everybody, Dr. Waills sat' down before the ;two hours allotted to him by old habitues, of the House, and there was an immediate rush to the division. Jn an ih-i stant, the ■ “beggarly array of _ empty benches,”., depleted 'by Dr, -Wallis’ eloquence — tho members .-.having .been literally ■'' carried away” by his speech .—became ' filled with * excited-looking legislators. < •• All. the galleries at this time- werq crowded to suffocation. Presently came the coin maud of the Speaker “to lock the doors,” and the question having been put, the members fled into the lobbies, ■ The excitement of the moment made itself plainly felt. It was apparent to the most superficial observer that _ tiiemoment was a. critical one. Presently, a cheer from the Government lobbies announced that the oracii*. Jar Te Wheroro, a Maori member, had length decided in ’favour of the “Noes.d He was powerless to affect the- result;, however, ami a few seconds, later, the numbers which . sealed the fate-of the Ministry were announced. .-Deafepipg I.applause from the Opposition, rent the aii*. ■. 1 ‘ Mr. (Afterwards Sir John) Hall, Leader of the Opposition, then rose and formerly annbunced the appointment ofa committee to prepare an address to the Governor. This was carried,. and the committee withdrew for the purpose. *Tn a very few seconds, however, they returned with, the address. RESIGNATION OF GOVERNMENT. Some ■ formal business followed, and all eyes turned on Sir George G rc T: wondering what he would ’do next. There he sat, grasping jirmly hold of his table and the back of his chair, with a face as . immobile as if .cai’vpd . out of stone, and apparently unconscioils of anything out of the ordinary routine of business having occurred. Presently, however, he rose, an'd’in the calmest most .stolid, manner, said that the House had passed p .resolution . that the Government, “as at present, constituted,” did' not possess the eon- t fidence of the House, he moved an adjournment. till the. following Tuesday. Sir George Grey subsequently informed the House that as-a-majority of the members had decided that the Government “as at present constituted” wd's not worthy of their confidence, he and-hi» colleagues had" tendered "their resfgna- ■ (ions to the Governor. a*nd they had begn ‘ accented. . ' Mr. JJall said that His Exeelleney had sent for him and commanded him to form a Ministery7 and he had uudertaken to do so. The Hall Goveriiiftent reml'iiiK’d in office until April, 1882.