THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 268, 17 August 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. SATURDAY , AUGUST 17, 1872.

The Fox-cum-Vogel Ministry is not just now on a bed of Roses. Mr btafford has given notice of a motion for Wednesday next, which, although not going the length of a direct want of confidence resolution, is a very damaging statement, and few, we think, | will be lound who can say that it is not I true. It it be curried we should think , the Ministry, or at all events a portion 1 of them, will resign, and let Mr .'Stafford try Ins lia. d at a iv-constructioii of the Cabinet. Tm* motion condemns the action of tiie present Government in reference t«» t.ieir Public Works and luuuigiat.on pohcy, their habitual

abs&ice from the seat-oLGovernment during .tlic Recess, whereby they are prevented from frequently consulting each other off important matters, to the detriment of tUefepublic service and at an The motion further woes on to say that the Colonial Government should retain full responsibility for the proper conduct of all works authorised to be done, and the sole control of monies voted by Parliament, but when practicable should avail itself of any existing provincial or other local machinery in the supervision or execution of such works. The latter part, we j resume, is a net thrown out to catch the Provincialists. Whether the motion will he carried or not seems rather doubtful, but the chances are that it will, amt in auyease the Vogelitcs will be roughly handled in the debate. That the present Ministry are deserving of grave censure there can be no doubt whatever. Their reckless and extravagant policy is condemned by the majority from one end of the country to the other, but in the House they may manage to scramble through the session. It may be that if Mr Stafford’s motion is carried, the Ministry of Vogelitcs will cat the leek and stick to their places, but if they do they must be about the greatest political mendicants for place ami pay that we ever heard of. Very little real business has been done this session. Some preliminary skirmishing has been gone through, and a pitched battle s near at hand. If the Government survive the Stafford motion there is sure to be a big light over the finances. The session promises to be a long one, and so far has not been satisfactory. We hope it may improve, and end better than it has begun. We think the country would have preferred a direct vote of want of confidence motion to that which Mr Staff >rd has placed on the paper for Wednesday next, as the issue would have been plain and distinct. The motion as it stands is rather in the nature of beating about tho bush, although it does unmistakeably condemn the policy of the Government. It may be on the card that the motion is brought forward to see which way the wind blows, and if it is met with a favoring gale from both Provincialist and Centralist quarters (and the Government still holds out) when the finances come to be discussed Mr, Stafford may then, perhaps, make a direct motion of a want of confidence. The result of the donate on Wednesday will be looked forward to with much interest, and, whichever way it goes, it will be satisfactory to have it settled and’let the business of the country go on. The time that is wasted by the squabbles on either side is a serious loss to the colony, and the political scramble now taking place in the Empire City is a melancholy exhibition. The sooner the curtain falls upon it the better the audience will be pleased.