Want-of-Confidence Motion.

Manawatu Herald, 2 July 1898, Page 3

Want-of-Confidence Motion.

Captain Russell moved the amendment of which he had given notice on Tuesday afternoon, which wua: — "We regret that Your Excellency's Advisers Bhould have thought fit, without authority of this House and for a purpose not contemplated by it, to so largely exceed a specific appropriation of £7000 for the construction of a new Library, such action being a dangerous subversion of that control over . the public expenditure which exclusively belongs to this House." In doing co, he said that the mover and seconder of the Address had damned the Government with faint praise. Speaking of dofence Captain Russell said thn Volunteer force was in a disgraceful state of disorganisation in consequence of the ignoranoa of the Defence Minister in regard to what WM essential to the efficiency of the colonial forces and the defence of the colony. He ridiculed the idea of acquiring; land from people who were using ifc and then disposing ol it to persons in whose interest special efforts had to be made by the country to enable them to succeed, and support freehold as the best form of tenure. Coming to his own amend- 1 ment Captain Russell dwelt on the rihoonstitaiional action of the Govern ment in undertaking general additions to Parliament Buildings intended to commit the country to the expenditure of £40,000 to £50,000 while the House had specifically voted only £7,000 for a library. He ascribed the Government's oonduct in the matter and its* origin to a desire to influence the Wellington bye-election and detailed the manner in which men had been employed in connection with the work as a proof of his contention. Even if a general addition to the Parliamentary Buildings were neecessary it should not have been undertaken until duly sanctioned by the House as representing the people, and responsible to them for expenditure of public money.