The Political Crisis in Victoria.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 856, 31 January 1883, Page 2

The Political Crisis in Victoria.

During recent years p new element has been introduced into politics vhich was never dreamed of by our forefathers. In England by far the most difficult task that Mr Gladstone has had set him is how to get rid of the obstruction which a factious minority has placed in the way of legislation. Con-

dilation was tried in vain, and at last it was determined to adopt a principle known in the French Chamber as the cloture, and what success will follow the passing of that measure remains to be seen. When liberty of speech becomes license, and men abuse the forms of the House for the purpose of preventing any work being done, there seems to be no other resource but to use the gag. Since the Irish Radicals in England commenced their systematic obstruction, the bad example has been followed in other countries. Indeed, the weapon is one that commends itself to an unscrupulous minorty, and in the penultimate session of the New Zealand Parliament it will be remembered that stonewalling tactics were resorted to. But it is in the Victorian House of Assembly that the system we have referred to has been carried on most vigorously, and during the past few months the O’Loghlen Government have spent many an evil quarter of an hour. Mr Berry and his followers have continually brought forward motions that were virtually votes of want of confidence in the Ministry, much valuable time has been utterly wasted, and it was evidently the intention of the Opposition simply to prevent any measures being carried, so that they might taunt the Government at the end of the session with idleness in not having got through more work. From a'telegram just received it appears that Sir Bryan o‘Loghlen’s patience has been at last exhausted, and as he sees no hope of any legislation being done by the House this session, he has requested the Governor to grant a dissolution of Parliament. The Marquis of Normanby has acceded to this, and the colony will ere long be in the midst of a general election. That the Premier has done wisely in thus taking the country by surprise is open to doubt, and we even question whether the. reason he has given for a fresh appeal being made to the people is the true one. No doubt the failure of the Victorian loan in the London market has done much to weaken the influence of the present Government. When we find their most active supporter (the Argus) questioning the advisability of taking such an extreme step, we begin to doubt whether Sir Bryan O’Loghlen was not afraid to face the want of confidence motion that would inevitably have been brought forward. With the remembrance of the harm wrought by Mr Berry and his colleagues fresh in our minds, we cannot but hope, for the sake of Victoria’s future, that the verdict of the, people will not be in favor of the extreme Radicals. The failure of the loan was a great misfortune, but it is not clear that the Government were altogether to blame for that. At any rate, greater evils might befall the colony than the temporary loss of this money, and it will be a bad day for the people if Berryism should again be allowed to exercise any power in the land.