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The Ministry are exceedingly industrious in circulating false reports calculated to frighten the wavering among Mr Fox's supporters. The last of many of such rumors that have reached our ears, is that Mr Fox has " bought over" Auckland for £10,000, and has made fabulous offers to liawkc's Bay. Both those statements are fabsolutely false. No offer, of any kind has been made to Auckland by the leader of the Opposition, and nothing further has been held out to Hawke's Bay than was openly stated in Mr Fox's speech to the House on Wednesday. We can easily understand the motives which actuate the concocters and publishers of such falsehoods. They wish to make political capital, but their " greenbacks" will not be accepted by a discerning public. Amongst the many wicked lies which are thus circulated, is one stating that a public meeting has been held at Hawke's Bay, at which Messrs McLean and Ormond were censured, and called upon to resign their seats. That Mr Stafford and his colleagues should speak and write what is untrue, is a tiling to which we have long been accustomed ; but that the telegraph should be employed ibr the dissemination of political misrepresentation, is something more than we could have expected, even from such a quarter. It is very well known that one or two members of the Ministerial " tail" are very busy at such work. We cannot frequent the precincts of Parliament without evideuce of this being forced on our eyes and ears. The hop. member for. Ham p den is now seldom in his place, but he may be seen buttonholing shaky members in the back rooms and passages of the Assembly. Wainba, the son of Witless, did good service when he rushed to the rescue with his Hitch of bacon to demolish the Jew, and it seems that the " Funny Man" of the House can also sometimes be put to practical work. It is fortunate that the hon. member for Hauipden can do something for his party, even when he dispenses with the " cap and bells."

The debate upon the "no confidence" amendment of Mr Fox has been continued during the two last nights with unusual vigor. New ground was opened by several speakers, and the result has been so much damage to the Government that the majority at one time expected is said to have been reduced from eight to one. There was a meeting of the Government supporters yesterday when heads were counted, and the result has shown that the Government not only cannot calculate upon a majority ; but if those honorable members, who support the Government measures, yet believe that the ultimate decision, upon the principles contended for by either side of the House, should rest with the constituency, be eliminated from the Ministerial list, the Government would then be in a minority. Mr Travers showed very clearly that the Canada Act provided for the distribution between the General Government and the Provincial Government in that dominion of the revenues in a manner but little differing from that suggested by the leader of the Opposition. Mr Dillon Bell was equally forcible in showing that any readjustment, such as the increase in the amounts to bo paid to Provinces, ■ was of the very essence of the whole scheme, and any modification contemplated by the Government should be laid before the House. The discussion was adjourned upon the motion of the hon. member for Mataura. It appears to be the general impression, supported by the interpretation put upon the words of Ministers, that, whatever the result of the debate, the Government intend to advise kis Excellency, at the end of the present session, to dissolve the present Parliament. The Juries Bill was considered in committee, and a conversation took place upon the expediency of retaining the Grand Jury, but the feeling of the House is opposed to its abolition. Members of the Assembly are to be exempted from attendance during the session of Parliament, and while going to or returning from their Parliamentary duties.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WI18680912.2.12

Bibliographic details

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2731, 12 September 1868, Page 4

Word Count
673

Untitled Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2731, 12 September 1868, Page 4

Untitled Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2731, 12 September 1868, Page 4