Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1885. The Late No Confidence Debate.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1728, 2 September 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1885. The Late No Confidence Debate.

The Government gained a victory in the recent division on the “ No Confidence ” motion by a majority of four votes. The Maori block vote was given on the side of Ministers, a d partly to that circumstance they owe their rescue from the defeat which threatened them. At one time indeed, the Ministry was very near being beaten, because had the Opposition got the division taken in the small hours of Friday morning, the “No Confidence ” resolution (jwould have been carried, despite the Maori block vote. But “the Devi! takes care of his own,” and so Ministers were saved by a motion for the adjournment of the debate till Friday night being carried by the casting vote of the Speaker. All Friday Ministers “ worked the oracle," and contrived, by certain occult means, to gain over a few additional votes. So when the debate was resumed on Friday night, it became known in the House that the Government had a majority. This was made certain on the division being taken with the result:—For the “No Confidence ” motion 39 ; against, 43 ; pairs, 10. Mr Donald Reid being absent, did not yote. Mr Coster is in England, and, counting the Speaker, the fall total of the House—9s members—is thus accounted for. It has to be noted that this last “ No Confidence ” motion emanated from “ The Middle ” or “ Young New Zealand Party,” Mr Hislop, who proposed it, being a member of that party. Major Atkinson made the first attack upon the Government by moving one of Lis hostile resolutions, and was defeated. Mr Pyke led the second attack with a resolution condemning the proposals of the Government—but was beaten by a majority of four. Then Mr Hislop tried his fortune and would have won, had a division been forced on at the right moment, but the fates were against him and he failed. Thus, through a peculiar combination of circumstances, a Government still remains in office, which does not really possess the confidence of either a majority in the House or of the cou -try at large. Ministers owe their safety to the fact that the Opposition is split up into sections.