THE DOWNFALL OF THE STAFFORD MINISTRY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 451, 13 September 1866, Page 1

THE DOWNFALL OF THE STAFFORD MINISTRY.

(From the Hawke's Bay Times, 30th August.) The perusal of the Finance Statement of Mr Jollie on the part of Mr Stafford, as given in onr last, must have produced a feeling of intense disappointment in the minds of all who, like ourselves, have wished well to that Ministry and endeavored, as far as possible, to award it tLeir support. We did place some confidence in the repeated assurances made by Mr Stafford in the house and on the hustings, that he saw his way to the saving of .£240,000 per annum in the expenditure of the Colonial Government, and that such sum was actually being saved. It was no indefinite sum that was named, which might lead the public to conclude that it was done upon a hasty or partial view of the state of the Colony and its needs; but it was distinctly mentioned as an exact sum, arrived at after careful and elaborate calculation—one, too, that a second estimate, made after ample time had been given to deect any flaw or source of error, still produced. For it was after such a time that he assured his constituents at Nelson of his conviction that he he bad made no rash statement —committed no blunder, but did, as he was happy to say, see his way clear to the saving of that amount, and was actually so doing. In vain we sought through the lengthy financial statement for an indication of such saving—having reason enough from

what'we knew of his cheese-paring to expect that such would be found—but only to tbe disappointed. It is also quite evident that it does not exist, for we find him placed in precisely the same position as was the case with Mr Weld, and forced to propose the same remedies for the difficulties of the position. By the arrival of the s.s. Welliagton, we have been placed in possession of the not altogether unexpected intelligence of the defeat and resignation of the Stafford Ministry. On the question of Supply being brought forward on the 14th, a series of resolutions were pro posed by Mr Fitz Gerald, intended to test the opinions of the House on the question of the proposed policy, especially with reference to the failure of the Government to redeem its promise of economy and the depriving the Provincial Governments of the assistance they have heretofore received by the threeeighths of the Customs Revenue. An amendment was proposed on the evening of the 15th August, by Mr Moorhouse, (who did not want to exclude the hon. gentleman at the head of affairs, but to change the other members of the Cabinet,) “ That the Ministry, as at present constituted, does not pos sess the confidence of the House,” —which was carried by 47 against 14. . “ The announcement,” says the Advertiser, “ was received without any demonstration.” On the House sitting next day (16th instant) Mr Stafford moved that it do adjourn to Tuesday (to-morrow), and in so doing gave the .following account of the resignation of himself and colleagues, and of his interview with the Governor on the subject:—“ i shall take the opportunity of making a statement which is expected from me after the defeat which the Ministry received last night. In consequence of that defeat the Ministry considered it necessary to at once place their resignation in the hands cf His Excellency. Our resignations were transmitted to His Excellency last night, and were accepted. I may add that I, this morning, received a summons from His Excellency, and that when I waited upon him he pointed out to me that I had made no allusion as to whom the retiring Ministry recommended should be sent for. I intimated that it was not necessary for me to make any such nomination —I might, indeed, do it—but my failing to do so was not any breach of etiquette, as I could with propriety wait to be asked my opinion. I may mention to the house that his Excellency agreed with what I then said.” Mr Stafford’s motion of adjournment was then carried. A similar statement was made about the same time in the Legislative Council by Colonel Russell, and the Colony was once more without a Ministry. The question naturally arises— Who next will assume the reins of power ? The feeling of the house does n3t seem so much directed against Mr Stafford as against his colleagues. Air Fitz Gerald did not ostensibly propose his resolutions to effect a change of ministry, and Mr Moorhouse distinctly denied wishing to see Mr.St afford excluded. As a matter of etiquette the proposer of the Want of Confidence motion would be sent for by his Excellency, hut he has intimated his intention of declining the office, and recommending the late premier. Both the Independent and the Advertiser look upon it as likely that Mr Stafford will form a new ministry, but this we may be allowed to doubt. We do not forget the difficulties which, he has informed us, stand in the way of doing it to his and the Colony’s satisfaction, nor the air of triumph with which the formation of a truly Colonial Ministry Was announced, which, however, has proved of no greater stability than its predecessors. In the defeat of the Stafford Ministry we have plainly shown to us the feeling of the house on the question of the payment to the provinces of the accustomed proportion of the Customs Revenue, for here was the rock upon which it split, and it is evident that any ministry that would hope to stand must he prepared to concede this point, and

must also be provided with a scheme for meeting the unmistakeable financial difficulties of the Colony. As to the nature of this scheme speculation is at fault, but it must lie in one of three directions—retrenchment, direct taxation, or the false but tempting policy of another loan. Some of the difficulties of the first Mr Stafford has found to his cost; from the last, we pray we may be delivered : there remains but the second, from which Mr Stafford fled in terror, althongh he had indicated it as a prominent feature in his policy. We look upon it that be the next premier Mr Stafford or any other man, the key-stone of his policy will be direct taxation.