The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1885. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 31, 4 July 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1885. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

This debate has terminated as it was generally anticipated it would, viz.. without going :to a division. Sir George Grey has no reliable following m the House, and his influence has greatly diminished of late. It is quite possible for the present Government not to possess the confidence of the, House, and at the same time that the House should ignore altogether SirGEORGE Grey's claim, to the leadership of the Opposition. The great pro- Consul is not believed m or trusted now-a-days as of yore. His philanthropic .theories for the benefit of" unborn, millions" have for the most part been proved to be not quite so unselfish and disinterested as they appeared:* and further, they were seldom either practical qjr practicable. , And so it has come to pass that the Knight of Kawau m his old days finds himself deserted by all save .a faithful- few/and m the House of Representatives, where; at one time he held almost unlimited sway, now his influence has dwindled down, andx he stands almost alone. In olden days, did not ' require to appeal to the sympathetic feelings of the House, but m his -late attack on the Government 1 jprbposals he had to some extent to supplicate the pity and compassion of hon. 1 members, 1 recognizing the fact that he-was riot being backed up m his attack^ but was, to use a common phrase, ''going alone. 11 Had- he even partially gained his point; : there would have been a crumb of comfort m his humiliation. But even that has been denied him. The position simply is this. The , majority of the House say m effect, ; •'-*' VVhile not m accord with the present .Ministry, we certainly cannot recognise. Sir George Grey as our present or prospective leader. 11 . The Ministry , have , nothing to chuckle over m the result 'of Sir George Grey's motion. The consummation is only what everyone e who had watched,; with intelligent interest the progress of the debate, and was conversant with the relative position of parties, had .anticipated. The result might have been; different had some other member moved a vote of want of confidence. It is a pity that, short as the .debate was, so much valuable time was taken up to no purpose. It is to f be hoped that the House will now {settle down to the work of practical legislation. There is -no doubt the tariff proposals will have to be modified. There is ample proof that the country will not submit to them m their present form, under any consideration. There is the Public W.orks Statement to bring down, so that the taxpayers may see what public works are to be inaugurated as a set off against the increased burthen of taxation which they may safely anticipate will be m store for them. : There are numerous new bills to be dealt wish, and it is sincerely to be hoped that parties will sink their differences m their interest for the welfare of the country a a t large, and their desire to '<Jd; their duty faithfully and consistently as responsible redresentatiyes of : the people. Because the first noi ctfn^dence;debate of the. session of \'lssi> has had such an ignominious .#s4 Jnglorious.jfinale, that fact will; not ; {justify Ministers m arrogantly assuming an autocratic right to do as they choose, because of the fancied strength .of their party. They have.no .superfluous strength to brag -about, but we will giVe the Opposition treditfor Ha desire to allow the > Government ,',to 'have a 'fair -and reasonable, iopnor^ tunity .to prove that they .are m! earnest m their endeavors to do their best for the benefit of the country ; and that if the measures ,

they bring down are practical and commendable, the Ministry will not be thwarted by those petty or aimless opposition tactics that undoubtedly embarass tbe party m power, but serve no good purpose, and withal are neither dignified nor I meritorious. ' .