The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 262, 14 April 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1875.

It was hardly to be expected that Mr Montgomery would carry the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Eevenue Bill. Even if the hon member's speech had been as convincing as it was feeble, yet the rejection of the Bill by the Opposition, aided as they were sure to be on this occasion by a large majority of the country members, was a matter of perfect certainty. It would be idle to suppose that Mr Montgomery and his colleagues were not perfectly aware of this fact, and we suppose they must have courted the inevitable defeat which awaited them, on this occasion, for some occult reasons of their own. Who are to take the places now occupied by Messrs Montgomery, Maude, Jollie, and Joynt, we do not know at present, but who-soever they may be, we fancy that the present occupants of the seats do not anticipate a lengthened absence from the benches on the right of the Speaker. With the exception of Messrs Higgins and I. Wilson, the members voting for the motion were either members of the Government, whose measure it was, or else they were the representatives of towns or districts that would be directly benefitted by the carrying out of the measure under consideration. On the side of the majority, we find, that with the exception of Messrs Webb and Westenra, who represent the towns of Lyttelton and Akaroa respectively, there are no members representing any municipality, and thus a very fair idea of the way in which the matter is viewed, according as the member represents a municipality or a country district is to be obtained from the division list. The Council is to meet again at 5 p.m. today, and then we suppose Mr Montgomery will make the usual statement to the House. Of course if a new Ministry is to come in, there must be some delay, and the work will necessarily not go on for some time as it should do. The new men will have to fall into their places, and to get into the routine of their separate departments before any real progress can be made. And it is quite on the cards that before the new men have been long in office, Mr Montgomery and his colleagues may be able to command a majority that will necessitate the whole farce of shifting the Ministry once more, and place the present Govenment in power again. Meanwhile the necessary work which should be done by the Provincial Council whilst in session, is delayed, and the Chamber is made the scene of petty party conflicts, instead of the members remembering that this session may be the last in which they may have the power of passing useful measures for the benefit of the province at large, and with this fact before their eyes, joining heartily together, and working for the advantage of the whole of Canterbury ; instead of scheming and debating to obtain possession of those seats on the Ministerial benches, the tenure of which by any set of members must necessarily be for such a limited period.