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Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 289, 26 May 1875, Page 7

Tuesday, May 19. want of confidence

The debate on Mr Bastings' motion was . resumed by Mr Reid, who in the course of his address, said :—The hon. member for . Tuapeka had given the first objection which he took to the financial proposals of the Government to the effect that the Estimates were too high. He thought the Treasurer r had drawn the picture too bright and laid the brush on rather too heavily ; that he had intended to make it appear that we are more prosperous than we are. However, he did not enlighten them as to how the revenues from the Province were likely to be realised. , No ; he took exception to anything he thought fit, but gave no tangible reasons for . his opinions. He (Mr Reid) thought the , Treasurer was in as good a position as the < hon. member for Tuapeka to ascertain the I revenue to be derived from railways. It was the duty of every member of that House to ' show that the Government were in the wrong • if they were in the wrong, If the hon. member contended that the anticipated revenue ; would not be fully realised, he also asked them to give a larger sum to Southland. His arguments were that the Government had made the Estimates too high, but they were not going to spend enough, though they intended to spend every shilling they were ' likely to realise. .. , . The hon. member took exception to the arrangement of the Government offices as a great grievance to a great many. He (Mr Reid) thought there were not enough offices, and until some arrangements had been made about them, they would be always coming up. The distribution of offices was always a sore point. Although the hon. member proved that they were not satisfactory, he (Mr Reid) did not think he made it a good cause for alteration. The members of the Government did not take praise and blame individually, but were collectively responsible. The hon. member for Tuapeka contended that the Government had made a mistake, for his (Mr Reid) having attempted to control the affairs of the Province too much ; but he said it rested with his colleagues, who were in a far better position than, the hon. member opposite to attirin whether he had taken too much power. (Hear, hear.) It would be wrong for one member to take too much responsibility, but he thought each member should take certain responsibility, and submit it to the approval of his colleagues at the proper time. (Hear, hear.) .... The next item the hon. member for Tuapeka took up was the position of his hon. friend the Secretary for the Coldfields residing at Cromwell. When the Goldfields Secretary lived in Dunedin, it was argued that he should reside on the goldfields ; and now he lived in Cromwell, the centre of the it was contended that he should live in Dunedin. The Goldfields Secretary rendered good service to the Province when Mr Ulrich was here, and did his work well as an Executive officer of the Province. . . . If hon. members did not think they had been carrying out the functions of the Government properly, let them vote for the motion ; and if they were put out, they would be pleased to take the opposite side. They would scorn to retain those benches if they were not the men to carry out the resolutions. -(Applause.) They did ! not wish to retain those benches if hon. 1 members did not wish them to remain there. 1 He did not care how the division on this motion resulted. —(Loud applause.) After a number of members had expressed their views on either side a division was taken on the amendment of the hon. member for Tuapeka, which was carried by a majority of 1 two. The following is the division list : 1 Ayes—22 Noes—2o i Bastings (teller) Allan, J. [ Brown, J. C. Armstrong, J. P. ,' Browne, G. F. C. Davie, John , Clark, H. Haggitt, B. C. Daniel, T; Hallenstein, B. [ DeLautour, C. A. Henderson, D. " r Driver, H. Ireland, G. j Pish, H. Lumsden, D. Green, J. Manders, H. j Hazlett, J. Mills, J. ■ Kinross, T. MolUson, A. J Moody, W. MacKellav, D. [ M'Dermid, IT. M'Lean, John v M'Glashan, E. M'Neil, John ' M'Kenzie, J. Reeves, C. S. } Rogers, J. Reid D. (teller) Shand, J. Reynolds, W. H. [ Steward, W. J. Stout, R. (teller) Turton, Gibson Tolmie, W. A. Wilson, James Wood, J. [ The Council then adjourned till next day. f ' Wednesday, May 20. ) resignation of the executive. Mr Beid said : Before the business is pro--3 ceeded with, I wish to explain that in conse- - quenco of the vote come to this morning, the , members of the Government considered it their duty to tender their resignations to the s Superintendent, and we now only hold office > until the appointment of our successors. I

believe the honorable member for Tuapeka has been communicated with, and he will probably be in a position to explain to the Council what steps have been taken. In the meantime 1 move that the House do adjourn. I do not know what timo would bo most convenient for the honorable member. Mr Bastings : 1 may state, for the information of honorable members, that the Superintendent sent for me this morning. I interviewed that gentleman, and have undertaken to form a Government. J think I shall be suiting the convenience of honorable members who live near Unnedin if I ask the House to adjourn till Tuesday next, I second the motion ior adjournment. Mr Lum.sdk.v thought it was highly inconvenient for country members to be obliged to remain in Dunedin .for several days without having anything to do. He thought this matter had been completely organised, and that an adjournment to Friday would have sufficed. The House then adjourned till Tuesday next (yesterday), at 2 p.m.