The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1885. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2031, 2 July 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1885. THE NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Tiif, no-confidence motion which Ims been brought forward by Sir Gborge Gkky, and which is now being discussed in the' House, appears to be a waste of time, and only serves two minor objects. In the first place it proves that the policy of fcho Government is disliked by all sides of the House, and in the second, it has afforded several members an opportunity of airing their opinions ahouttheiropponents, whether in or out of office. It Sir George GItEY stands almost alone, he certainly has only himself to blame. His admirers used to say that ho was the only statesman in New Zealand who was worth mentioning; yet, with such a reputation to sustain, he has been simple and childish enough to table the motion without having made the slightest attempt to make it a party move, though the experience of last session must liavo taught him that his personal following in the House can at best only he called a corner. It must certainly be v very galling to the Government to hear member after member condemning them in unmeasured terms, tnd then conclude with' the explanation that he does not intend to vote against the Government, but that lie will do all. he nan to defeat their measures. Though Ministers are safe in their seats, they must feel thoroughly humblnd by the repitition of such statements, They have a majority to keep them in office, but they have no majority to carry their measures, except in a form of which they are at the present entirely in ignorance, In place of the Premier being leader' of the House, he is, in a sort of a way, its private Secretary. A more humiliating position has never been occupied by any of his predecessors in New Zealand, Any other set' of politicians would feel ashamed of it; but the present Ministers have a hunger for office to appease, and therefore cate little for the fate of their measures, so long as they themselves are not ousted. The arrogance, conceit, and self-complacency of the

Premier, are of themselves suificient to prevent liitn from seeing himself in his truo light; the Colonial Treasurer lias an axe to grind before he leaves the colony again; and Messrs Richardson and Ballance, it is well known, art always ready to take office when it offers. Hence the indifference of the whole crew to public opinion. So far as the debate itself Sb concerned, there is' little that is noteworthy about it The mover (Sir George Grey) and the Premier washed a lot of dirty linen, and Mr Buyce and the Native Minister followed suit, Beyond that, scaicely anything has been heard but a wholesale (ionilomnation of the measures of the Government, The debate may do good, as the utterances of honorable

members show the utter helplessness of the Government, and should have a tendency to crystallize the Opposition, It would mutter little what any new Ministry might be, or how long it might last. We feel assured that if the Stout-Voqel combination were once broken up, we should have heard the last of it, The divi.ion can only expose the want of tact and weakness of Sir George Grey, and will be of no value whatever.