THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 184, 12 August 1885, Page 2

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Movements of tho Opposition.

(BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY RErORTKB.)) ■• Wki,likgton, this day. ;. The political kaleidoscope Ins undergone no change during the last forty-eight hoursv jior Will the Opposition make any move till Major Atkinpon'B return, which is expected on Friday. Mr Bryce was urged to give notice of a hostile motion again yesterday, but he steadfastly declined to take any action till the Tarana.ki Major had been consulted. So far, nothing definite w settled as to who shall propose a "nocontidonco resolution," but. assuming the rdlo which I have already adopted—that of n " tipster"—l shaH plump for Ormoedas the "most fit"' when tho time for action arrives. The Opposition anticipated that tho resignation of Miaisters would be announced when the House met yeeterday, but no such startling '.lows was forthcoming. I learned thi3 from a very well-informed member of tho Atkinson party, who, in auwer to my inquiry as to the position of the Opposition movo, which was shortly expected, wrute : "lam uot at liberty to tell you auy thing jus* yet, but if anything deti.iite turns up, will advise you. We were all expecting that Mr Stout would have announced the resignation of tho Government nt 2.30, a* wo had pretty good authority for supposing (hat the Governmont had decided on that course." Pursuing my inquiries, I ascertained that the relations of Ministers hod been more strained of late than they have been at any period since their occupation of the Ministerial benches, and this coldness led to the supposition that resignation was contemplated. It is now thought that tho Government (following tho course pursued by the Gladstone Ministry two months ago) will conrfc defeat, thoy being fully aware that some adverse action is contemplated ] at no distant date. Opposition CJ*lm a Majority of Seven. An Auckland member,who was shown the. Opposition' ea.tdsit 1 a.m., says it Bhows a majority of air <jt coven. The Governmea whips during Uist evening -were in closa communication with Sir Julius Vogel, and more than oncei I have noticed him poring over his card.

Later.— rho Key to the Position.

Tho folloveSnft is said to be the key to tho present situation : The Atkinson party believe that thn disgust of the House at Sir Julius Vogel'. Is so great that they would rather have a .purely Atkinson Government than tha pre pent Ministry. Acting under this belief, thpy have been putting off the attack till tb w last moment. It appears, however, thiVt they reckoned without their host, as many of the free lancea of th o House were stili prepared to su] »port the Government in preference to pi actng the Continuous Ministry on the benchtes. Messrs Rolleeton and Bryce are said ito have been the cause of this wholly Atkinson movement. They have found, however, that Government can count on 47 supporters as against Major Atkinson, and tho game can't bo played. Major Aakinson hatt been sent for, post haste, and tho coalitiVm attack, tho plan of which I revealed la^b week, will probably now go on. The mumps mentioned as likely to be most ooceptable to the majority of tho House in the now Government, are Messrs Montgomery, Mitcheftson, Ortnond, and Hursthouse, with Mci\ie4B in the Upper House.

The "New Zealand tTimes" of to-day, ropents the story of the in|tended resignation of Ministers. lam desiitd authoritatively to give the report a most emphatic contradict ion.