Wangauni Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY] FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1891. MR ROLLESTON'S AMENDMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7327, 30 January 1891, Page 2

Wangauni Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY] FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1891. MR ROLLESTON'S AMENDMENT.

The Opposition, under its throo loaders, Messrs Rolleßton, Bryce, and Dr Newman, for it takes threo to lead that hcterogenous body now that Sir Harry Atkinson ia not there to stamp out any refractory symptoms with his historical hobnailed boots, tried its strength by moving, by way of amendment to the Address-in-lieply, that His Excellency should be recommended to adjourn instead of proroguing Parliament. Oi course, the mover of the amendment and his friends posed as the advocates of economy, and laid great stress on the extra half cost oi a second session, but they conveniently forgot to inform tho new members that it was the late Government and its supporters, the present Opposition, who made a second session necessary. Had tho lato O ovemment followed the constitutional courso, and Sir Harry Atkinson kept his written pledge, tho resignation of himself and his friends would have been in the hands oi' the Governor within * few days of tho result of the late general election being known. He would not keep his pledge and resign, therefore there was nothing for it but to call Parliament together and bring the Atkinson Government before tho House to hear their utter condemnation. They dared not faco the ordeal, but held on to the last possible moment before sending in their papers, and utilised tho respite by providing for their chief and some of their friends. When the mombers of the House of Kepresentatives had been taken away from their homes at the busiest time of tho year, and brought to Wellington to deal with a defeated Government which clung to office in tho face oi' a. crushing defeat at the polls, they were disgusted to find that they had been brought on a fool's errand, tho contumacious Government having at tho eleventh, nay the twelfth hour taken heart of grace, and cowed ! They could not face tho ordeal of an adverse vote, so they threw up the sponge, and refused to stand up before thoir opponents. For these people to prate of economy is very funny; they never surely expected anyone to be misled by such a cry from their lips? What they really meant to say to members was this — "You have turned us out, and we will be revenged ; you shall come here again, and spend months, to tho injury of your health and pocket, and you shall only receive one day's pay'for two days' work. That will teach you to not vote against tho chosen of the plutocrats, and the champions of capital." The Hon. Mr Bryce was not speaking by the card when he declared that the result of the late goneral election was not in favour of Mr Ballance as against Sir Harry Atkinson. ]t was emphatically so, and the result of the division on Mr Eolleston's amendment was another sLrong proof that the member for Waipa has not vet got over his old habit of inaccuracy. By 35 to 21 the members of the House declared that the Government should have proper time to prepare and briug down the very important measures foreshadowed in the Governor's speech, and that tho House should be prorogued, and not adjourned. It was a crushing defeat for tho triumvirate and their followers, who will have to chew the cud of bitter disappointment a -\\ hile longer.