The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1887. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1568, 26 May 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1887. NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

In the House yesterday on the Customs Tariff Bill coming up for us second reading Major Atkinson moved : — " That iv the opinion of the House the. Tariff and other financial proposals of the Government are unsatisfactory." This is tantamount to a vote of noconfidence, and the Government must accept it as such. Should the Ministry be defeated, as a matter of course the Governor will be asked to grant a dissolution, and should he accede to the request, an appeal to the country will iollow. It seems that the Representation Bill, just passed, will not come into operation till about half the financial year is over, and consequently, if the Government go to the country, it must be under the Act of 1881. In this case a double session will be almost inevitable, with, of course, its accompanying cost. At a time when all parties, Government and Opposition alike, are agreed as to the need of reducing the colony's expenditure, it seems somewhat anomalous that so little is thought of plunging it into an increased outlay which would swallow up any retrenchment effected m other directions this year. This consideration ■nay perhaps have some weight with those members whose support of the Government m case of a rote of noconfidence was looked upon as doubtful. But there is also another consideration j many would like the countiy to at once declare its opinion m regard to the important proposals which ara now before the House. The question to be considered, therefore, is whether the expense which would be incurred by an immediate appeal to the constituencies is warranted by the merits of the case.