PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2584, 30 May 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Our report of yesterday’s proceedings left the leader of the Opposition speaking on his own amendment on the address in reply. He was followed by the Provincial Secretary, who complained of the unfair manner in which an issue was attempted to be raised by the Opposition. He brought forward an amendment in a mere spirit of faction ; the amendment on the reply to the Address was a mere paraphrase of it. The issue raised by that amendment was an unfair one ; and he said emphatically that the amendment bad been brought forward in a spirit of faction, resulting from the large meeting of the hon. member ami his supporters that morning. As to the amendment itself, it was a more paraphrase upon the address in reply; and being such he questioned very much whether it was in order. The only point upon which it was anything like an amendment was in regard to the last clause ; and he said in all fairness that th.it point should be brought forward by itself, and the issue pub to the Council as regards the celebrate 1 Hundreds Act. He had not the slightest objection to that being done. The hono able member who was at the head of tho late Government did take a most extr (ordinary position in coining forward at this time to move a repeal of those Acts as an amendment to the address of his Honor. Who was responsible for the existing Act ? Did not the honorable member himsdf concur in a series of resolutions upon which the Act was based? It was his own Act, to all intents and purposes ; and to say now that no Government could have the confidence of the Council who were not prepared to repe .1 the Acts mentioned, was a extraordinary position to take He (Mr Cargill) did not care two straws about the Hundreds Regulation Act; bus if there was to be an iss .e, let it be taken on the prope- point—the real point at issue being on matters referred to in the land resolutions which had b 'en laid upon the table of the Council. The honorable, member was quite mistaken in what he had said regarding the amendment he had referred to, in that the object of tabling the resolutions in the beginning was to provide for a means of s n ttle;nent within the country which should combine agriculture with so much pasturage as was necessary for the support of that agriculture; his object was to provide pasturage r’ghts for men taking up land under these clauses. On the very day that the resolutions were printed, he agreed with Mr M‘Arthur, after consulting him and other lion, members, that it would be a most reasonable thing to extend some pasturage rights in favor of the holders. Mr Cutten claimed that the Provincial Secretary should be found on the opposite side of the House, if lie were sincere in his professions, and defended the Opposition from the charge of offering a factious opposition.’ Dr Webster, in a few words, painted out the necessity for the Government having an opportunity of putting forth their policy more elaborately than had been done bef.re new members were askc 1 to give a vote which would have the effect of rejecting them. The adj mrnment of the debate unijl to-night was moved by Mr Seaton, while Mr Barton moved as an amendment that it be adjourned merely till the|evcmng sitting. Mr Haughton, in a half jocose way, expressed the hope that fl|e longcT adjournment would be granted, in order that he might have an opportunity of studying Mr Reid’s amendment as a literary composition when in print. Ho thought the Opposition did not require to use such indecent haste, wl|en their ‘leader had so carefully yarded his supporters, and knew hjs strength; A day'a delay qould’make no difference to them, and the Government were perfectly wi ling to give up their s :ats if the Council wished it, in favor of a party whose policy was to turn the Province into a com monage walk • but he would not take the responsibility of the proceeding upon himself. Mr Barton would havebeonhumano enough to give the Government the day’s grace asked lor, if it had not been that time was precious, seeing that in view of the approaching session of the Assembly, little time would Ire left for the transaction of real business. The discussion on the question of adjournment was carried on for an hour ; ultimately Mr Reid challenged the Government to give their weight to the repeal of the Hundred* Act; in which case he promised them the support of every member on his side of the House. 'i he Provinci d Secretary repeated that personally, he was in favor of its repeal ; but having had no opp urbanity of consulting wi'h members on that side of the House, he could not answer for them, Mr Haughton followed iii a similar strain, pointing out that he had been a persistent opponent of the Act. Then trying another tack to induce the House to grant the longer adjournment, he observed that as he hoard the amerclmcnt read, he thought he should feel con-trained to vote for it—which would place him in a very awkward pod:ion in regard to his colleagues—but the bait did not take. The adjournment till seven o’clock was carried. At the commencement of the evening siting Mr Haughton intimated that he thought it would be much more satisfactory if the question should be settled at once, and with as little debate as possible. He intended to move the adjournment of the House, and the Council would distinctly understand that upon this motion would be staked the existence of ‘the’ Government’; 'tlpat upon it would be taken their distinct opinion as to the existence of tic Government. —(Laughter. ) Honorable inembcps might laugh, but they would soon laugh at-the wrong side of their mouths. The honorable member (Mr Reid) had taken a course which he had never in his experience of colonial politics seemed equalled ; he had placed himself on the very pinnacle, he would not say of what. His attempt to “ corner ” the Government had utterly failed ; they wore not anxious to keep their seats. They were anxious to see the Opposition occupying them and carrying out the policy' which had so successful.y settled the country for the last three years. He hoped he expressed the opinion of his colleagues as well as of himself. They were auxious to allow the Government, which, he had been informed, had beta already formed, to take their seats

there. If they got a Government from thei Opposition side of the House, composed of good men, he would feel not only very much pleased but very much astonished. He then nioyed the adjournment of the House.—A division was taken with the following result i —Ayes, 15; Basstian, Black lock, Cargill (teller), Daniel, Galbraith, Haughton (teller). Holmes, Luinsdea, M‘Arthur, M'Glashau, M‘Lean, Reynolds, Seaton, Turnbull, and Webster. Noes, 20; Allan, Armstrong, Barr, Barton, Bastings, Bathgate, Bradshaw, Brown J. C., Browne, G. F. C., Cantrell, Clark, Cutten (teller), Duncan, Green, Henderson, "'ickey, Hutcheson, Menzies, Mervyn, Mollison, Reid (teller), Shand, Shepherd, Smith, Sumpter, Thomson. The motion was therefore dccla cd to be lost. The Provincial Secretary thereupon stated that as already announced, the Government considered the vote to be equal to one of want of confidence ; and he therefore moved the adjournment of the House until Wednesday afternoon. Opposition being shown to this request, the members of the Government retired from the House. Mr Barton occupied an hour in a disquisition on the Hundreds Regulation Act, and was succeeded by the Ho i. Mr McLean, who expressed his intention of letting the House hear the other side of this question on a future occasion. After some slight discussion, the amendment was carried on the, voices, and the House adjourned until to-morrow.