Calcutta, May 13: Mr Gandhi’s prestige suffered a serious check when the Mahratta Provincial Congress decided that it had no faith in his panacea of spinning as the sole medium of salvation for India. The congress declared that it was most absurd to stipulate the spinning of 2000 yards of yarn as the franchise qualification for membership of the congress.
M. Gandhi, who is touring Eastern Bengal, continues to receive affectionate welcomes from the masses, but the educated classes have abandoned him.
Short-lived governments
Some slight historical interest attaches to the record of short-lived Ministries in New Zealand. Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who formed a transitional Government on the day of Mr Massey’s funeral and yesterday tendered its resignation in order to give place to the new leader of the Reform Party, was at the head of affairs for fourteen days.
There have been various instances in New Zealand of the enjoyment of a shorter term of office by a Government.
The Bell-Sewell Ministry, which signalised the establishment of responsible government, lasted for thirteen days - from May 7 to May 20, 1856. The Ministry resigned in consequence of being defeated, by a majority of two, on the question of the relations of general and provincial government.
Sir William Fox succeeded, and, strange to say, he also held the fort for thirteen days - May 20 to June 2.
By a majority of one the House of Representatives dismissed the Fox Ministry on its financial proposals, and then came Sir Edward Stafford, who managed to hold on for no less than five years. Afterwards Sir William Fox had another term of thirteen months, and was followed by Mr Alfred Domett who stayed two months longer.
The third Stafford Government lasted for exactly a month, the Waterhouse Government for less than five months, and the last Fox Government for five weeks.
The first Atkinson Administration in 1876 is officially described as having existed for thirteen days - the fatal number - but it was immediately reconstituted, so that this is not a typical instance of brief duration.
The first Stout-Vogel Government had twelve days of life (just missing the thirteen), and then Major Atkinson put in six days (August 28 to September 3) - the unchallengeable record of brevity.
It is worth while recalling that in this case the indulgence of even six days’ grace was due only to the necessity of taking time to make new arrangements. The Government was in reality more short-lived than the recorded dates might imply. It was an abortive Administration. It took office on August 28; on August 29 it was committed to a pathetically early grave by a vote of 43 against 35. Next followed the reign of comparatively longlived Ministries, broken first by Sir William Hall-Jones’s six weeks’ tenure of office in 1906 after Mr Seddon’s death, while Sir Joseph Ward was on his way back from London. That was a matter of provisional accommodation, akin to the recent arrangement following Mr Massey’s death. It may further be noted that Sir Thomas Mackenzie was Prime Minister for three and a-half months in 1912.
Benchmark of generosity set
At the meeting of the Exhibition Company last night the chairman (Mr J. Sutherland Ross) stated that Mr J.B. Shacklock had offered to supply up to 100 garden seats, 8 feet long, free of charge, on condition that they be handed over to the Dunedin City Corporation Reserves Committee for use on Logan Park for preference, or other reserves, at the close of the Exhibition. The offer was accepted, and it was decided that Mr Shacklock be accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his generous offer. Mr Ross hoped that the lead given by Mr Shacklock would be followed by other citizens.
- ODT, 29.5.1925
- Compiled by Peter Dowden
