The West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20,1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 388, 20 December 1866, Page 2

The West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1866.

The factious opposition offered to the re-election of the new Government has had the effect of again postponing the consideration of the Estimates, and deferring all the other business before the Council. However certain may be the return of Messrs Stewart and 'Duncan at the head of the poll for the Papanui district, the nomination of an opposing candidate will of course have the effect of prolonging the elections and a>s a consequence the House cannot proceed to business until after Christinas. What do tlie Jollie opposition care ? In the bitterness and venom of their wrath at the vote of no confidence, it matters little to them how much the material interests of the country may suffer. Their only object is to embarrass the man who has been brought back to power by the vote of the Council. " Factious opposition" was openly threatened) and we sec its commencement. It. began in the Council itself, Mr Thorns >n giving notice of motion of no confidence before ever the new Ministry was farmed, and before it was known against whom the proposed vote would have to be directed. Its second development is the hindrance sought to be put in the way of the restoration of Messrs Stewart, Duucan, and Beswick, to their seats in the House. All three have held their position as representatives of their several districts for years, and there is no reason whatever for supposing that they have lost the favor of their constituents. The immediate object is not so much to unseat ' them, though that would be a great victory to the opposition, were it attainable, as to delay the public business and embarass the Ministry by whatever tactics and at whatever cost. It is to the credit of Mr Stewart's supporters to remember that they refrained from resorting to this course when Mr Jollie and Mr Strange Williams were lately before their constituents. They had doubtless many temptations to do so. The late Government had been treated ungenerously, and taken by surprise. There was besides a fair prospect of ejecting one at least of the two new men who had taken office. But what was the position taken ? It "was declared that the issue that -had been raised was one to be settled not by one or tsvo small constituencies, but by the whole of the constituencies of the Province as represented in the Council. The return of Mr Jollie and Mr Williams was therefore uuopposed. Mr Jollies friends have followed another set of tactics, and although there is every prospect that their nominees will be defeated at the poll, they -will have achieved the ignominious success of having so far hindered the progress oti business as to defeat for the present many measures now before the Council, which have been brought in by independent supporters of the Government, and to render it extremely difficult for. the Government itself to carry the] Appropriation Act before the end of the/ year. After the 3 1st December notj a single penny of public money can be lawfully spent, and the provisions of the Act are so stringent that we may be certain that no one will venture to spend it unlawfully. The consequence of the success of the present opposition tactics will be the sudden stoppage of all works, the suspension of the "payment of salaries, in fact, the total paralysis of the State machinery. We must cling to the hope, however, that not all the members of the House who voted in support of the Jollie Ministry stand committed to the policy of faction. Mr Strange Williams himself has spoken in the fairest terms, and may be expected to give the present Ministry a candid support. When the present warmth of feeling has subsided, others may be influenced by his example. Should a working majority be at the disposal of the Government, the Estimates may yet be got through by the continuous application of the House to business. We fear, however, that under any circumstances many important measures before the Council will have to be withdrawn. A few days will tell us all.