The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1889. THE DISSOLUTION MOTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2228, 17 September 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1889. THE DISSOLUTION MOTION.

The narrow majority scored by the Government on Mr Ballance's amendment to Supply — " That in the opinion of this House it is expedient that there should bo a dissolution of Parliament after the conclusion of the present session, and that the new Parliament should meet for tho dispatch of business as soon as possible after tho expiration of the present financial year " — will be claimed by the Ministry as a sufficient expression of confidence to warrant not only their retention of office, but also their making endeavours to continue their offioial career beyond the regular term of Parliament by next session bringing in a Bill to extend a duration of the present Parliament till after the next census had been taken. Such a proposal would no I doubt be carried by a similar small ' majori-y to that by which Mr Ballance's i motion was rejected, for the Atkinson Government though friendless in debate somehow manages to command a following into the lobby. This is not a pleasant prospect to look forward to. It simply means the continuation for two more sessions oi the state of chaos into which the government of the country has fallen through the incompetency of ministers having completely disorganised all method of carrying on the business of Parliament. It is contrary to all principles of Government that Parliament and the country should be so trifled with as they have been during the last session ; it is hopelesss to look for any j improvement while the present Ministry I continues in office, and Parliament has been so demoralised by mismanagement tbat there is little hope that it will rally sufficiently to undertake its legislative duties in a statesmanlike and orderly manner, without first going through the purifying fire of an appeal to the country. Therefore there was every reaaon that Parliament should be dissolved, and only one — the inconvenience to the country of a general election — against the proposal, Tho present constitution of the House is such that there is no party strong enough to carry any of its legislative proposals, but several combinations strong enough to prevent any legislation being effected. It would be better to return to Grown rule than allow such a burlesque of representative government toj be perpetuated — as Sir H. Atkinson and his puppets seem desirous of doing, The history of last session is not creditable ; another like it would be scandalous.