Victorian Deadlocks

These were three in number, caused by attempts to tack on to the Appropriation Bill resolutions of a controversial character. The first occurred in 1865, when the Legislative Council refused to pa the Appropriation Bill with certain tariff resolutions of a protective character appended. The Governor thereupon declined to sign warrants for payments out of the Treasury, and the busine of the country was at a standstill. The Government, however, got out of the difficulty by having recourse to the banks. The second or great deadlock arose from the inclusion in the Appropriation Bill of a grant of £20,000 to Sir Charles Darling, the retiring Governor, in 1867. This was ended by the refusal of Sir Charles, in July 1868, to accept the grant. The third arose in 1877 over the question of payment of members, the council again refusing to pa the Appropriation Bill with this provision tacked on. The Government thereupon dismi ed a large number of civil servants. A compromise was, however, arrived at, and the officials reinstated. The day on which the dismi als took place is known as Black Wednesday.