PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2046, 31 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Major Atkinson unable to Form a Ministry.

Overtures to Mr Whitaker.

WELLINGTON

(From our Special Correspondent.)

This day.

Every effort waß made yesterday by Major Atkinson to get together a working Ministry, but it is understood, without much success. Offers were made to Mr Whitaker to take office as Premier if he liked, and to exercise a powerful voice in the selection of the others, but he declined to have anything to do with the tail of Vogel s Government. Mr Ormond was also pressed to take Me Lean'a place, McLean being very anxious to be set free, and feeling that his power over the House is gone. He is understood to have expressed himself willing to g6 into a new Government with Mr Whitaker, but not otherwise. Other attempts were made to induce men of less experience and past reputation to join, but with no success. Expected Abandonment by Major Atkinson It is now sa d that Major Atkinson wVI give up the task, and advise that Mr Whitaker be sent for. If so, it is said Mr Whitaker will accept rffice, and that he can easily form a Government much stronger than' Sir Julius Vogel's. Mr Ormond could easily join as Native Minister, while any of the Canterbury men, excluding, of course, Mr Stafford, would work with him. The Opposition Tactics. How the Opposition would view change ie doubtful. To Mr Whitaker personally they would not object, it is understood, but it would depend largely on his views Lo- far they woald support his Government. It is said their present programme is to bring in a bill to make Abolition permissive, that is, to allow such provinces which are to be governed from Wellington, and such as do not, to go on as before, with an adjustment of the burdens as proposed in Sir George Grey's Separation! resolutions, and clauses forbidding legislation by Assembly, except on the subjects originally reserved in the Constitution Act, for parts of the colony still retaining provincial institutions. Stonewall OppositionOf course such proposals would meet with the strongest opposition frem a majority of the House; but it is said the Opposition hope by refusing supplies to compel its acceptanceNo doubt some might vote for the Bill wko opposed the]resolutions, such as Mr Rollestor» and one or two others, but many who have always been opposed to the working of the old provincial system would object to its perpetuation, and it may be doubted how far Stonewall opposition would succeed. The Sheriff of Auckland. Mr D. M. Luckie was, I believe, an applicant for the position of Sheriff at Auckland, rendetedvacant by the death of Colonel Balneavis. Probably the government would have given it him, but they had determined io reduce the the salary from £GSO to £150, and append the duties to some other office.