Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1886. THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5916, 3 June 1886, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1886. THE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

We are glad tlte Premier put his foot down and pinned Mr Montgomery to the responsibility of his amendment, which really amounted to a- vote of Want of Confidence. We are tired of the "croakings" of these political ravens who, like Mr Montgomery, never weary of blackening the financial fame of the colony. If the member for Akaroa saw where the current estimates could be safely reduced by £75,000, it was his duty to point out where the saving could be effected when the items were before the Committee. As for his deprecating any further borrowing, it shows how little he really knows of the position of the country and its urgent needs. To stop borrowing now would bring on national bankruptcy, and land the colony in a worse mess than Mr Montgomery has yet pictured, even in his most gloomy forebodings. If the House think with him that the estimates should be cut down and borrowing cease, let those who vote for his amendment take the responsibility of it, and administer the Government themselves — if they can — which we doubt. If the member for Akaroa, who has posed as "the candid friend" of the Government, is sincere, he will not flinch from the responsibility of his amendment, and will be ready to undertake the task of forming a Cabinet, if sent for by His Excellency. The last time he was in office his presence in the Cabinet cost it its existence in a very few days, and he had to be quietly dropped out, when the leader of the same party was speedily sent for to construct another Ministry to take the place of the short lived one, in which Messrs Wakefield and Hursthouse had portfolios. Mr Montgomery has never got over that affront, notwithstanding the fact that Sir JEtobert Stout offered to stand by him and Mr Macandrew, and remain out of office if the House did not accept his two former colleagues. Mr Macandrew gave way in the handsomest manner, and Mr Montgomery swallowed his pride and retired also, but we know how ill it agreed with his digestion. If he can carry his amendment, we shall perhaps be afforded an opporcunity of seeing of what real capacity for useful legislation its mover is possessed ; but, somehow, we fancy the House will not consent to make the experiment, now that the Premier has plainly said that the Government will stand no repetition of last session's badgering.