74 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



regarded as staunchly conservative, though it is very doubtful if 

 its policy would have come under that definition in England. For 

 it had promptly carried a most liberal decentralising Act for the 

 establishment of municipalities throughout the country, and made 

 generous provision for the assistance of desirable immigrants from 

 Great Britain. Further, the Surveyor-General had submitted 

 regulations for the control of the Crown lands, which proposed 

 to deal with the squatting tenure on lines that would bring a 

 largely enhanced revenue to the Treasury. On the other side, 

 the Opposition claimed the right to be called "liberal," because 

 their chief aim was to widen the franchise, and to bring the in- 

 fluence of the popular will to bear with ever-increasing force 

 upon projected legislation. But they were disorganised and out- 

 numbered by the Ministerial supporters, though more than once, 

 in a thin house, the Opposition snatched a victory, which was not 

 followed by a resignation. 



Mr. Duffy's Bill for the abolition of members' qualifications was 

 carried in spite of the unconditional opposition of the Ministry. 

 Immediately afterwards, in discussing the Supply Estimates, a pay- 

 ment that had been made by the Chief Secretary to a civil servant 

 by way of compensation for loss of salary was directly negatived. 

 Mr. Haines adjourned the House to consult his colleagues as to the 

 propriety of resigning after these consecutive rebuffs. Consternation 

 seized upon his supporters, who vigorously asserted that they had 

 every confidence in the Ministry, and did not consider that their 

 adverse vote in such a matter involved the general question. Even 

 the Argus next day condemned Mr. Haines for his threat to resign, 

 when he ought to know that a majority of the House supported 

 his general policy. So he relented, and continued to occupy the 

 Treasury benches for a few weeks longer. 



The Immigration Bill was, in a double sense, the cause of his 

 eventual displacement. It proposed to establish a new department 

 of the State, and to supersede the Emigration Commissioners who 

 acted for the colony in England. It provided several well-paid 

 official openings, that of the Chief Emigration Agent in London 

 being worth 1,200 a year. It suited Mr. Childers, who desired to 

 return to England, to accept the offer of it, and in February he 



