THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 233, 4 October 1887, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

.an OF AN ATKINSON

VOGBb WILLING TO COALESCE

ORDER OF BUSINESS

THE PROVERBIAL CALM

(SPECIAL REPORTER.)

We-USGTO.*, September 3.

n* would scarcely imagine from appear--0 s re that we were within two or ££ of the opening of the session. £"political arc seldom quieter than Tre here Just now, the storm o elections with their subsequent thT£l having been followed by defeTbS listers-e all in remarkable clam thei. places at tlie d * is *J- D' Stt the session, and already being prepared ff .^ -^ P_S^SoK. Former momH(?n8 c have been ed wifch fc , bepappeal sourw fche ■eats, but _y[^ S e* siOU by Mr Hatch SfS£ has taken che seat next to him.

«Cabi_e_-inal_m. " m* fact that Major Atkinson is • £=on places it beyond my power to S'l? y t u p nroeress made in the 1^ J the ne"w Cabinet. He is fSShe' n Wednesday, and it i be efore it is submitted to His. Excellency £ Atkinson has been m frequent ] Lrinn with his most promin3S&£ both North and PBouth, J/fw-s'sent for but absolutely Shin- definite had been determined when SRereon Saturday. The Major, howWm sanguine that he would SUCCee m the task entrusted to him.

probabilities of tbe Situation. The probabilities of the situation are freely discussed here, and it is worthy of remark that in the best informed circles there is general conviction that Major Atkinson will succeed in forming a new Government. There is a great deal ot diverBJtv of opinion respecting the probable nUh of his following, and singular y enough, even the Major's friends do not seem to think that he will ; meet the House with more .ban a bare majority. The difficulties of his task are intensified by the many sections into which the House is split up, and the fact that very few of those sections give allegiance to a leader whose inclusion in the Cabinet would secure theEupport of the whole section.

Probable Ministers. Quite a number of names are mentioned in'connection with the new Cabinet. The tdief prevails among many people here &t Sir JonkHall will be Premier, and it is to some extent justified by the fact that SirJohnhad a consultation last session with JjjorAtkinson and other leading Oppositionists, and announced himself for Selwyn nthonnclerstanding thab he was to take the Wership of the party this session. Bub arises whether circumstances tuM justify his inclusion in the Ministry. Ikel&cfcions only save Sir John one adIwntfrom Canterbury (Mr Pearson) and *Ws" be considered a very powerful Bapp.tter. On the other hand, some of the Hsklared Northerners of Liberal tenancies, who might be expected to leave this neutral position to support a Government which Svonld be found to take the placeof the Stout-Vogel combination, would k very unlikely, to do so if such an utter Conservative as Sir John Hall were at its head. Amongst other names spoken of as mostprobableMinistersare Captain Russell, Messrs Alitchelson, Peacock, Fergus, Scobie M&nzie and Fisher, while a rumour is cArent that either Mr Rolleston or MiConnolly will be called to the Upper House, bat nothing i. said about Mr Bryce.

Sir Julius Vojrcl. liii just within the range of possibility that Sir J. Votfel may yet be asked to form "Government, and his own friends here are confident that he will. Major Atkinson's success ij by no means assured, and the treasurer's friends attach great weight to m Johns's compact following of 25 Canterwry and West Coast votes. There is »doubt that Sir Julius had a power cnaracteristically his own in attaching 10 |»s train men whose support it is IWble to obtain, and this might be used W very considerable effect on a House ™J includes so many new members. Jgw Major Atkinson nor Sir Julius "«H hope to succeed without the support \.\ Btrade P arfcy which is very strong J which would not easily be satisfied by •Derof th<se protectionist leaders.' % Julias Willing to Coalise. .lS* 1 ,■?'•-* nmes declare that Sir ?WIS not only willing, but anxious X_S tMV ith MaJ°r Atkinson, not- !£___._* P»blis»ed assertion of the ftiLLI 16 woultl consider such JJJance dishonourable. Improbable as __ *w.»PP«_3, it gains in importance MlisWl _v conJ™C-ion vvith an article Sag in the "Post," WX_. ST exPre™ to Sir Julius Bto_Sn_ 8 on meters in which he S! «c article in question makes OSES. fclT 0n' s Prions of the pfisfc SIV- ha coalition, and then ™eM? enns, muatingly to the fact *C, S r a.d 8" Julius were old ffi haVe °cen a good thing CneS n t l lf the olt* relations had rf y?*rs ago. The writer Berlin ls the Mai°r that.many P _* _ P__ lr Jullus V°f.el when MaStnVt 0 _ $ l'Robtn't Stout and Mr ). V«S^A v?^ ietoftheconntry H' "\V_ l r Jul,U8>'aiul concludes _ Patriotism "^toob'gh an opinion of '-% wouldrf''* 0 beheve that personal J^if & all-Weclto !nfl «^ce their WX_°,! ltevcsfc demands a cer--B^utrT° ntheil' part•^pUo_x _? ouial Treasurer. ft* *mCS . __ n T is not unanimous _? to-n.Et t0, Sll' J' V°Kel- "The X f a, cHhimmo«fc bitterly, 8?* of the_°V th. 1' re oicin S -* the efc- »nd Ll a.dlcal, element' in the y"PPosition mS s readiness to oin Sv. of'tS ~ f "-Panted, and Gf avo£^ crb«ry, Westland fc*;. ge a eonrl y : To onr certain C of*°llofC„ any of them havo no &.'VSL DlmaParfc*^hiscolC»to^4him .'^ ifa choice beil afcpSnt a H,dr in? party ttheTtf 10' 1' khey HE Propo rtinn » . *attei* course. *«2S of L . h_ follo-versare -fii hut even ' _? f *t .S. n°fc _lave aformidhmSLmQn* them. All ,B«tt influential men in tho

House are dead against him, and are not reconcilable on any terms. They have drawn the sword upon him and thrown away the scabbard. These followers of his are either novices, respectable enough perhaps, but totally unknown to fame, or else men who would be a drawback to any party.

The Opening on Thursday

Tlie opening of the House on Thursday will be a very quiet affair, and will be effected by Commission. It is probable that the Governor's speech may be read on the following Thursday, but there is greater likelihood that it will be postponed till some.time during the week after next. It will ' thus be seen that the House will not settle clown to work for some time. Practically the only business for next Thursday is the election of a Speaker, and Sir Maurice O'Rorke is the only candidate for tho office spoken of yet. In anticipation of the opening, the press gallery has been widened and lengthened, and the obstruction caused by the Speaker's canopy partly removed.

Appointments to the Council

An impression, appears to exist that prior to their retirement from office Ministers will recommend for elevation to the Legislative Council some of their prominent supporters, such as Mr Bevanand Mr Dargaville, who wore defeated in the recent contests. Such a course would be exceptional, and I am assured by Ministers that under no circumstances would they make such recommendations. One or two such appointments will probably, however, be made by Major Atkinson in the process of Cabinet making.

Strength of Parties.

Great difference of opinion exists respecting the strength of political parties. The "Times" to-day credits Sir Julius Vogel with 25 followers and Major Atkinson with 30, and cays that of the remainder the majority are pledged to keep Sir Julius Vogel out.

Wo Borrowing.

The " Times " says that it is certain that whatever party is-in power, no. new loan will be propssed this season.

Nelson*, this day. Major Atkinson's Movements

Major Atkinson left for Wellington this morning. There is no further development of the political situation.