The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 746, 6 November 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1867.

The war between the two Houses of Parliament in Victoria is still raging, and assuming an importance little inferior to the memorable differences that led to the declaration of American independence. It will be fresh in the memory of our readers, that during Sir Chables Dablistg's tenure of office, the Legislative Council rejected the Appropriation Bill sent to that body by the Assembly, asserting at the time the right of the | Council to alter or reject Money Bills. The Ministry very properly resented this : assumption of authority, and Mr M'Ctjlloch subsequently re-introduced the Bill unaltered, which was passed through the Assembly by a large majority and again sent to the Council, and again was thrown out. Months were spent in trying to obtain an arrangement between the two Houses, Ministers resigned, the whole country was convulsed, and the agitation led to a display of public opinion so favorable to the M'Culloch Ministerial policy, that the Opposition feared to attempt the formation of a new Ministry. His Excellency Sir Charles Darling, having solicited the aid of Mr Eellowes and other leading members of the Opposition in the Council and the Assembly to form an Executive without success, was compelled to recall the old Ministers, giving a pledge that in the event of the Council continuing to maintain its ob structive attitude, to dissolve the Assembly, and appeal to the country. j The Bill was again passed by the I Assembly, and again rejected by the ! Council. The political crisis then reached its height. Without Appro- ! priation, no salaries could be paid, public works were suspended, and the whole machinery of Government disjointed. Mr M'Cflloch, with financial ingenuity, found a way to save the money in spite of the Council, but in a way that was strongly condemned by the Opposition. It is true that it was a novel experiment to borrow money from the banks without any security to give, but the necessities of the State were pressing, and the M'Cflloch policy of obtaining the funds to keep the G-overnmental machinery in motion, by obtaining overdrafts with a " consent to judgment" addenda met with the approval of the public. The appeal to the country resulted in enabling the M'Culloch Ministry to meet the new Assembly far more powerful than previously. The Council then succumbed and passed the Bill, but its members had worked mischief before they yielded — they petitioned the* Imperial Government to recall the G-overnor. The foregoing is a simple outline of the beginning of the complications that steadily intensified, until they have reached a pitch that, in all probability, I. will ultimate in the remodelling of the Victorian constitution, the abolition of the Council, and end in a serious dispute 1 between the Colony and the Imperial authorities, The present dead-lock arises $u$ 9f Im|> eriaJt iatafowiie? iis the tm

action of the Colonial executive — from an attempt to censure the people by punishing the representative of Royalty for acting in accordance with the expressed desires of the people he was called to rule over. The Secretary of State for the Cclonies elected to take the exparte statements of the Council, as to the conduct and policy of Sib Chables Dablhtg, as his guide, and at once recalled the Governor under censure. This action was almost universally condemned by the colonists, and resented by the Victorian Government. The newly appointed G-overnor was received with courtesy, although the appointment was looked upon with suspicion. It was known that he had been selected as a man of strong conservative proclivities. The mock lords were jubilant at the downfall of Sib Chabi.es Dablestg, while the Assembly passed a negative censure on the conduct of the Downingstreetauthorities, by offering, as a testimony of Victoria's esteem for that gentleman as a man and a statesman, to vote Lady Dabling the sum of £20,000. For state reasons the G-overnor declined receiving it at. that time. Since then, having retired from the Imperial service, he intimated that all obstacles to Lady Darling's accepting the gift were removed. The Ministry included this amount in the Appropriation Bill which was lately carried through the Assembly and sent up to the Council. Again the Council renewed the contest. It would not pass the Bill unless the £20,000 item was expunged. The Assembly was firm in its determination to have the Bill, and nothing but the whole Bill. Hence came the second dead-lock. The Ministry resigned. His Excellency Sir Hexby Ma^nebs Stjtton was then placed in an exactly similar position to -what his predecessor had been before. He sought other advisers, but in the fear of the popular discontent at the conduct of the Council, no one was found sufficiently bold to undertake the task of forming a new Executive. "What is the result? The M'Ctjlloch: Ministry has resumed office fortified with powers to make another appeal to the country. Another general election on the same issue will take place. His Excellency the Govebnob is adopting a policy identical with that of Sir Chables Dabling, and as a natural consequence, is receiving strong condemnation from the Council and its small army of admirers. The Ministry and the Assembly have become bolder and more determined. Mr M'Culloch stated in his place in Parliament that should the voice of the country be again favorable to the Ministerial policy, and the Bill be repassed unaltered by the new Assembly, and the Council again reject it, a way would be found to do without the sanction of the Council altogether. There can be no doubt the contest will prove of great colonial importance. It must eventuate in the reconstruction of the constitution of Victoria, or it may end in ignoring the right of the Imperial Government to force its dictum upon the action of the Colonial Government. The general election is to take place at once.