LORD R. CHURCHILL'S RESIGNATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1499, 5 March 1887, Page 3

LORD R. CHURCHILL'S RESIGNATION

° [BEUTBE'S XJWiEGBAMS— COPYRIGHT.] „,'. Adelaide-, Maroh 4. » The following nummary ha* been reoMved per the Garonne, dated London January 28th ; — *On the opening of Parliament, Lord Randolph Churchill explained the cause of his resignation. He stated be was unable to become responsible for the estimates presented by the beads of the Army and Navy Departments. Although there were other matters of grave importance, whereon he differed from Iho Marquis of Salisbury, they were susceptible of accommodation. Considering he bad pledged bimaelf to a policy of retrenchment where desirable and possible, it was impossible for him to retain a place m the Government, ■w-h063 programme excluded retrenchment. The Army and Navy estimates amounted to thirty-one millions, which would exceed by six millions the average from 1874 to |B§4. Besides these there were large supplementary estimates which Government would nek parliament to eanotlon. He h%d strongly urged Government to commence their tenure -of office by returning to the normal state of expenditure, and although he had desired one million might be gtruok. off the estimates, hUf that amount might have satisfied him if the . Qqwromtjit had shown ptyni of • diepoel-

tion for rotrer-ohmeut Me repudiated tha statement that he bad resigned m » fit of temper, and stated that tho controversy with regard to retrenchment bad been going on einoe the formation of the Government. At the conclusion of his speech Lord Randolph read a lettar which he had Written to Lord Salisbury on the 22ntl Decc-mbor, stating that the character of tho domestic legislation contemplated by the Government, m his opinion sadly fell short of what Parliament and tbe oountry expected and required. The foreign policy of the Government had appeared to him at once dangerous aid without method, but he took hia stand on tho question of expenditure and finance, which Involved and would determine all ether matters. Reiterating his former public deolaratlonß on the subject, and having no reason to doubt their soundness, he took leave of Lord Salisbury with profound regret, bat without doubt or hesitation. Mr W. H. Smllh expressed profonndregret on behalf of himself and the Cabinet at the resignation of Lord R. Churchill. While admitting the importance of retrenchment, he repudiated the idea that Government was actuated by a meddlesome foreign policy. He maintained that the pre'ent moment was inopportune to stop the expenditure which had been sanctioned aud commenced by previous Governments.