The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

THE LATE MINISTERIAL CRISIS AT
MELBOURNE,

Detailed accounts from Victoria have reached us
of the causes and consequence of the recent Minis-
terial crisis in that colony. The former adminis-
tration, under the presidency of Mr. Haines,
startled the commercial community with the vast
gratuitous labour which it proposed to give itself
by Government interference with matters purely
commercial. The three great measures were those
of a national bank, the making of trunk railroads
by the St .te, and a grand scheme of immigration,
with an imposing staffof officials, at an expenditure
of 300,0001. Great excitement was created not
only in the colony, but in this country, for the in-
terests of the shareholders in the various London
banks identified with Victoria would have been
seriously damaged, if not al'ogether destroyed, by
the establishment of a national bank, and protests"
tions were forwarded against the proposed interfer-
ence with private enterprise. Feelings of distrust
in the policy of Mr. nainessoon became apparent ;
and, shortly afterwards, being defeated on the im-
migration project, and having only a majority of
one in a vote of indemnity for an unauthorised
expenditure on railway account, his administration
gave way, and Mr. O'Shanassy was called upon,
and formed a new Ministry. Strong opposition was
however, raised immediately. His administration
was obnoxious to three parties—one, the official
class, who dreaded administrative reform ; the
squatters, as the land owners are termed, who
apprehended a liberal land system ; and the third
were the ultra-Protestants (both Mr. O'Shauassy
and Mr. Duffy being Roman Catholics). These
combined, and on the re-assembling of the house
moved a want of confidence, which was carried by
34 to 19. Mr. Mc Culloch was sent for; he was un-
able to form a cabinet, but consenting to act
with Mr. Haines a restoration to power of the
latter gentleman was the result, and he now
conducts the affairs of State, but under such a
total change of views and sentiments, that,
although there is a return of the man to office,
there is no resuscitation of measures. On the con-
trary, it is quite clear that the policy is to be very
liberal, with a total abstainiiW from monopoly of
every kind, or the interference of the executive
with matters which are the pro Ape of private en-
terprise.
On the first point—as to a Natiohel Bank—Mr.
Ebden, the treasurer, stated in the house, in reply
to a question on the subject, "that it was not the
intention of the Government to propose any national
scheme of banking, or what might be termed a Go-
vernment or national bank." On the second ques-
tion, we have a statement from Mr. Haines him-
se'f, that it "would be impossible to take any
steps until certain questions referred to the com-
mittee now sitting were decided, and he hoped the
membersof this committee would bring theirlabours
to a termination without delay;" while the Mel-
bourne press generally remark that " the feeling of
the public is so strongly adverse to Government con-
sti uction, that the chances are now greatly in favour
of any private enterprise of general utility."
With raforoncra to immigration, it wan likewise
asserted by the Government that "it was not the
intention to a nd money out of the country to im-
port additional labour, which was utterly super-
fluous." In fact, the second Haines Ministry
repudiates all the pet projects of the fir.-t, and a
total change has coins o'er the spirit of the
dream." Mr. O'Shanassy, it appears, was acting
with the utmost forbearance, and he is said to have
declared fiat there should be no combinations, or
factious opposition, on his part. In fact, it was
thought possible that he might be induced to join
the administration personally, and so complete the
" coalition cabinet," which the present is considered.
Mr. Hanes had expressed a hope that the present
session might be short ; that he would only press
the passing of such measures as were imperative,
and would propose the prorogation of the Legisla-
ture early in July.
As it will, no doubt, be interesting to the colo-
nists now in this country, we transcribe the names
of the members who were present at the division on
the vote which removed Mr. O'Shanasay from the
head of the Executive :
ATES.—Haines, Rutledge, Sladen, Feeley, Campbell,
Evans, Michie, Ebden, Davies, Anderson, Clarke,
Healer, Griffiths, Moore, Harker, Adamson, Sargood,
Palmer, D. S. Campbell, Fellowes, McCulloch, Lalor,
Service, Bennett, Johnson, Beaver, Embling,
McDougall, Goodman, Smith, Willis, Langlands, Sit-
well, Rutherford.
Noss.—Read, Brooke, O'Shanassy, Fyfe, Owens,
Hutnffray, Horne, Foster, Syme, Grant, Wood. Duffy,
Snodgras., Myles, Hughes, Blair, Phelan O'Brien,
spinal).
In enumerating the members of the new Cabinet
of Victoria, iu our remarks of last week, we ought
to have stated that Mr. Ebden, the Colonial Trea-
surer, was Auditor-General in 1851-52, under
Captain Lonsda.le's administration. This post,
although constituting the holder a member of the
Executive Council, is not one of the conspicuous
appointments of the State, or what may be termed
political. The seven main positions are dependent
on the votes of the Legislature, and the Auditor-
General is net amongst them. Mr. Ebden is an
old colonist, and we hope be will be as useful as
Colonial Treasurer as he is said to have been as Au-
ditor General.—Mining Journal.