The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1886. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1515, 5 June 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1886. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Th* Government have come off victorious in the first attack made upon them thia session, their majority being 16 votes. The Government proposals were modest enough, considering the expectations to which their recess speeches gave rise. They proposed to borrow only £1,500,000, which they pretty evenly apportioned amongst the various districts, the conditions being thit the money thus allocated should not be applied to any other purpose. Considering the reports concerning a loan of ten millions, and such things, which gained currency during the recess, one would have thought, that members would have been perfectly satisfied with so modest a proposal as that submitted by the present Government. It is very doubtful whether any Government could get on with less. It is well known also that, an adverse vote would ead to a dissolution, and entail extra-

ordinary expense, and that, together with the tact that Government have done fairly well, ought to have deterred members from seeking to turn them out of office. But the great Mr Montgomery thought his hour had come to distinguieh himself. He saw the recognised Chief of the Opposition sit down after an onslaught on the Ministry without doing anything definite, and so he concluded that the opportunity for stepping into place and power had arrived. His “ bursting-up policy has long since evaporated into thin air; his “separation” proposals were never even admitted into the region of practical politics. He has been most unfortunate in all his undertakings, for the very reason that he never possessed the capacity for formulating anything worth considering. He has been a huge failure, but the fault has been of the head, not the heart, for, goodness knows, he has meat heartily desired to get into office. He was a thorough-going friend of the Government, and a most determined enemy of their opponents after the last election. He was taken into the first Government formed after last election, but his presence in it led to its speedy downfall; and because he was left out of the next Stout-Vogel team he went over to the Opposition camp, where he has been a discontented spirit ever since. On last Wednesday evening he moved—- “ That Government be requested to reduce the Estimates by £75,000.” The Government, of course, treated this as a no confidence motion, and debated it as such, with the result that Mr Montgomery added another failure to his many previous ones. We have no desire to be recognised as supporters of the present Government; all we can say for them is that they are no worse than their predecessors, but we dpubt whether they 1 are any better. What we aim at is thorough independence and impartiality, and, looking at the question from that standpoint, we do not hesitate to say that we are very glad the no-confidence debate has resulted in a Government victory. If the Government were defeated two courses were open to them; they could either appeal to the country 01 throw on the shoulders of Mr Montgomery the onus of forming a new Administration. Supposing the latter course were adopted, what would be the result 1 Simply a ftafe of chaos. On the other hand, supposing Parliament were diaiolved, the result would be a general election, which would cost far more than the £75,000 by which it was proposed to reduce the Estimates. There would first be the cost of the elections, and then there would be the cost of two sessione, and double honorariums. The present members would be entitled to £2lO each for this session, and if they were re-elected half that amount, but if not elected the expense would bo still greater, for the new members would get full pay. What would bo the good of reducing the Estimates when such would be the result 1 And worse still, another election would have to take place next year at any rate. The present Representation Act will expire in the latter end of 1887, and it will he absolutely necessary to s pass another Re-distribution of Seats Act. An election would, as a matter of course, have to follow this, and thus we would have another election next year. Now, would it not be better to let the Government remain in office this year, than put the •country to all this trouble and expense ? To do so.would be true economy, but it is not the good of the country our members have at heart, but to secure office for themselves.

TOWNSHIP OF AROWHENOA. The township of Arowhenua will in all probability be proclaimed a Town District in a very short time. The law has been complied with in all respects, and, so far as anyone can see, there is now no impediment in the way. It is therefore time the Sf tilers in that district reflected on what they are doing. When we commented on this subject some time ago we pointed out that it was doubtful whether they could get the money which of right belongs to them, and that, even if they could, it must be applied to constructing roads within the district. We then published the danse of the Act bearing on the subject, and we published it again in our last issue in a Utter read at the last meeting of the Temuka Road Board. It is therefore not necessary for us to quote it any more in full. It will be sufficient to point out that it says plainly that the money must be handed over to the County Council or Road Board for the purpose of constructing roads. If it said “ County Council or Board ”, then it would comprehend any kind of Board, but it distinctly states it must be given to the Road Board, and that it must be spent in constructing roads. Acts of Parliament cin no more be broken by the Government than by a Town Board, and in oar opinion tho law must be altered before tho money can be banded over to the Arowhenua Town Board It is not governed by a mere resolution, regulation, or by-law of the Land Board j if such were the case the Land Board could very soon put it right. It is governed by statutory law, which must be complied with, and which can only be changed by an Act of Parliament. Unless something is done therefore it appears to us that the position of the Arowhenua Township will be this: They will have a Town Board ; there will be pretty close on £4OO in the coffers of the Government which they are justly entitled to, but owing to the state of the law they will not b • able to get it,an J they will not have sufficient money to carry on even the election of members. Our advice to them is to take steps at once to remove all doubt on this subject. Parliament is in session at present, and if they wait any longer they will be too late, and will not beabls to do anything until next session. That would put them in an awkward fix—they would have the machinery but not the motiv power to set it working. What they ought to do is to represent tbeii position to the member for the district, and ask him to take steps to have the law so altered as to enable them to get the money, and to spend it in whatever way the Board would deem desirable within its legal limits.