NO- CONFIDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6307, 3 August 1888, Page 3

NO- CONFIDENCE.

An. Unlooked for Sensation.,] £feom our special coKBEsroKDEKT.] WELLINGTON, August 2. The evening has been eatirely tafeen np by an. amendment to going into Supply, moved by Mr Walker, to the effect that the redistribution cf electorates tlionld not take place before tho next census is taken. Mr Walker, you may remember, epoke very strongly on this question. After Mr Walker had delivered an able ' speech, the Premier replied by accepting- • the^motion as one of want of confidence,,. % and coolly threatened the House ■with a dissolution if the amendment were carried. Mr Walker bad kept his own counsel about his amendment, as it was well known that ' the utmost diversity of opinion prevailed. As the result of the affair was a foregone conclusion from the first the debate was devoid of. all interest, though Messrs Seddon and Hutchison made /good speeches. Finally the Government won by forty-one to twenty, a numbsr of Oppositionists walking out. [IrKOSI OUII OWW CORRESPONDENT.} A now and utterly unexpected sensation was provided for the House this afternoon on tho Premier's motion for going into Committee of Supply, by Mr Walker, the member for Ash burton, who moved an amendment to the effect that in the opiniomof the House it was desirable that the operation of the Eepresentation Act of 18S7' (which reduces the number of members to seventy-two after the expiry of the present Parliament) should be deferred till after the census has been, taken ?, and that a respectful address be prescaifced to His Excellency, asking that thia be given effect to. This bombsliell took both sides of the House by surprise, for it appears to have been brought on without any consultation amongst; the rank and file of the party, la speak ing to hig amendment Mr TValker explained that the Act of last cession-had . been the outcome of panic legislation, .and., he arguedVthat there were plenty of signs that the Mouse had now come to a more settled f ranve of mind, and that there- was no desire to rash on measures of this and a similar character. The Government, he* eaid, hadishown no anxiety to immediately? tackle th«s question, and he felt sure the House and tho country would agree now that net hi ing should be done till after the taking of j a census. When the House resumed atiy.SO, Mr Hutchison seconded the amendment, and then I THE FRSMIER rose, with, all his warpaint and feathers on, to "dbsquotalate" tho unfortunate member for Ashburton, who had had the temerity to make such an unexpected attack on the Ministerial ranks. He> earcaatically congratulated the Opposition on hayingiatVastreeolved to try conclusions with the G;ove\mment,butintLeßaine breath taunted them, with cowardice in having been so ashamed of their -attack as to make it on such a vside issue, without having given any: notice of their intention to the House and the country. He informed tho House thai; the Government could not but accept the i amendment as a no-confidence motion, anid challenged the Opposition at once to go to a division. "The Major" was evidei ltly wound up and had his big boots on, fl >r he slashed about him in very effective s tyle, taunting the Opposition with havjn g got the tariff, and then deter- j mined to > turn the Government out. It was evidea t from the tone of his remarks that the t rovernmenf; were cure of a majority. '. This was spesdily manifested, if tuere hacfi been any doubt before. j A DIVISION was called 1 'or by Mr Jackson. Subsequently, -\vhcs i the doors -were locked, the motion was "Carried on the voices, but to show the strength of the Government, Mr H'Gregor, ithe other Government whip, called for a division for the opposite aide, j and was mai ile teller with Mr Walker, to . the no email amusement of the House. Government were victorious by twentyone votes, and thus ended the first "noconSdence" dWbate of the session. The result was received without any demonstration whate\ ier, and the House quietly went into Committee of Supply on the Justice Departmt at.