THE PREMIER'S RESIGNATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 215, 1 September 1876, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S RESIGNATION.

Tbe New Zealand Times of Wednesday gives tbe following report of Mr Rollesion's remarks on the extraordinary step taken by Sir Julius Vogel: — " It may seem strange for me to rise on an occasion like this, after what has fallen from the Hon. the Premier. Sir, I have been a consistent opponent of that gentleman ever _ince I have been a member of this House; and I would wish it to be distinctly understood that anything I iimy say on the present occasion is not intended iu any way to mar the feelings of acknowledgment of the deserving exertions maie by ihe hon. gentleman in the interests of this country—of the work he has done for the country during the past years. Sir, I should not have risen to speak had I felt tbat anyone else was about to rise, and I am gorry that nobody hae to eay

a few words on the present important occasion. Sir, Yl: feel that a young, country like thi. cannot afford to let an ; occasion of thisjkind; pass without ex-i pressing in some way.a sense of what; is felt on the. important matter whioh has been brought before the House toi-** nighf I heard with mixed feelings what fell from the hon. the Premier just now. I felt that he spoke under great difficulty, and I felt that anybody who should foliow him j must likewise speak under great difficulty. I think it would be a great mistake ia a young country like this that a precedent should be created, which is felt generally by the representatives of the people to be a bad precedent, and that it should not be immediately acknowledged". I think that no technicality of position, . such as that tbe Ministry oo those benches bave now practically ceased to exist should stand in the way of hoo. members expressing their opinioue- on. the present situation. I think the' course pursued ia extraordinary and unprecedented. I think the oountry has a right to complain .that at a crisis sueh as there has never been 'in this colony before, the leader of the Government, who has guided the affairs pf i the country for some . time past, who has been , looked up to by the country generally, and who has had the utmost confidence-, of the country during; (he>; : pas^that he should take advantage of a J vacancy in a subordinate office of x the Government to place his resignation in the hands of hia Excellency, and ask this House to approve of tbe course be has taken; I believe that this action is unprecedented in character. I should be sorry .to use aoyjanguage which might seem tp be/ hearties?, prYwbjoh would, wound the feelings of hon membersdiffering from ■myself} but I feel I should be wanting in my duty to myself if 1 did not express what I feel, and that is that the couutry is placed in ooe of the falsest positions that any country was ever. -placed, in We, learn from what has fallen from the Premier that on his return to the country he told his colleagues, those who, on all constitutional principles, owe their existence to him — that he was willing, having come back to the country as he was bound to do — to take his position as Premier in the House, but was unwilling to remain in that position. Sir, I think hon. members will agree with me that he should have told the House then what he told hia colleagues. . I think we have not had that confidence in the matter ; which we ought to have bad. He says' he told his colleagues tbat as soon aa they could relieve him, he hoped they would do so. Well, it is something new to me to learn that the Prime Minister of a oolony owes his existence to his colleagues, and that he should appeal to them to relieve him of the position he holds. I regard such as an entirely false position. He says, and I am sure ihat every member of the House sympathises with him, that his health has suffered ipthe public service. In the short history of this colony many men have sacrificed health in the public service, and I am sure the House is always ready to recognise their services. But Ido not think, and I speak advisedly, that on the occasion of any great crisis iu any country men who have led the public affairs are justified io quittiog them on the ground of private affairs. I think the House would' be wanting in its duty to the country if it let an occasion of this kind go by unmarked. It is a precedent in its own history and in the history of the colonies most dangerous. 1 must hope that we shall have an opportunity of discussiug the question whether directly or indirectly the Premier can vacate his seat in favor of taking a subordinate position under ths Government of the country.