MR FERGUS ATTACKED. A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 401, 11 September 1889, Page 3

MR FERGUS ATTACKED. A NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

The House adjourned on the mo£ion to'*go into Committee>of. Supplybhis evening.' Mr Grimmond (Hokitika) moved as an amendment, "That this House regrets that the Minister of ; '^Tuatice should nob have recognised that in fairness to his late colleague an explanation by. ! himself of his own conduct in connection [ . with the Cnrisbie case was due to the House I and the country." He, failed to sed how'Mr i Fergus could escape from censure in the matter, as ho had takejn all the responsibility for Mr Hislop's action, and held thab in justice he ought to "share the punishment. Mr Hutchison seconded the' motion. _ The announcement burst on the House like a bomb' shell, and was greeted with ominous silence. 'The Premier was evidently much surprised, and hardly knew how to take it. However, he' rose and asked 1 whether the leader of the Opposition was aware of this motion. u An hon. .member ; " Why ?" The Premier : "Because upon that would depend what course I should pursue." The Hon. Mr Ballance said he felt bound to say that he approved of the motion. The Premier immediately moved the journment of the House, declaring he would do no more business, but would the next day tell the hon. gentlemen what the Government thought of the matter. It was nonsense to think they could go ou" in this way, and it was unconstitutional for the leader of the Opposition to accept a motion of this kind without giving notice' to the Government. Mr Ballance complained thab every motion from the Opposition was accepted by the Government as one of no-confidence. The Premier said he did>ob bo accept it. Mr Ballance went on to say that the Opposition would insist on expressing its views on public questions, whatever the consequences might be. He was not a party to the resolution (Oh !), but he approved of it, and the Premier could take from thab what he pleased. " • Mr Walker attacked the action of the Govern meut. The Premier twitted the Opposition with being regardless of the business of the country, and only anxious as Mr, Grimmond had said of *' putting the Government down one by one," while their leader was not ashamed to acknowledge ■ himself "a partisan of this attempt. It wa"s a disgrace to the country and hon. gentlemen ought to be ashamed of such tactics Mr Ballance objected thab the Premier was speaking to the main question and nob the motion for adjournment, and bh'e^ Speaker ruling that was, so the Premier said he would say what 1 he had to say next day. He was, however, determined to put a stop to such tactics. The Opposition were evidently nob anxious to divide on the question of adjournment, and did ndt challenge "the ayes, ' , they „ haying it, -when the Speaker declared'it so on the voices. However, a Ministerial supporter disputed the Speaker's declaration, -no doubb > with a view of forcing a division. The division bell was rung, and on <the doors being locked thp question was put.- The "ayes " rang out clear and strong,' bub when. it* came to their turn not »/* no '" responded. '* The , Governmenb parby were baken- by\ .surpr(se,.and ,the Speaker declared bhab the v adjpurnmenb wa^, carried amidst- uproaroua applause and laugh ber r from the Opposition. -~ ' The House then, adjourned " we're soon busV. in groups discussing the latest phase of the political arena.