The Ministerial Crisis.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5237, 5 June 1888, Page 2

The Ministerial Crisis.

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WEMJNaTON, Last night. NO CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.

There has practically been no change in tho political situation to-day. The Whips have bern busily employed in ascertaining tho feeling of members, and it is believed that the decision of the Government to stand by the tariff and primage is the result of this sounding. The position is very complicated, and it is difficult indeed to see a way through it. The Free Traders who havo seceded aro said to number twenty, and certainly form a solid party. Many members consider their attitude is simply one of bluff, and that, while they are anxious to frighten tho Government into compliance with their views, they would speedily rocede from the position thoy have taken up if they saw the Government in actual danger of defeat. It is hard to say whether this would bo so or not. The secessionists comprise some of the most stubborn of the party, and they are fighting for principle, which they claim should bo above party consideration. They contend that in giving way on tho Loan Bill they conceded a very important point of this policy, and they are therefore determined to hold out on the other points of ro further taxation whero the object can be gained by the reduction of the expenditure, and of protection for the fostering of industries. ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION.

There- is great diversity of opinion respecting: the sincerity of tho largo number of the Opposition who havo promised the Government their support. If thoy are firm in adhering to their tariff, many of tho Government party aro under the impression that the Protectionists would bimply see tho tariff through and then leave the Government to their fate and some even go so far as to say that party ambition would be paramount with a section, and that, while thoy would voto for Protection pure and simple, they would take the opportunity of going into the lobby with tho freetraders in tho divisions on imposts for revenueraising purposes only. This is not the base with all. One prominent Oppositionist assured mo to-day that if the Government stuck to the tariff he would give them his consistent support while they remained in power. THE GOVERNMENT FIRM. There is no doubt tho Government aro showing a disposition to show a bold front and see the matter through. It is now understood that they havo abandoned tho intention they were recently credited with, of resigning their seats if tho defections amongst their former supporters became so numerous as to place them at the meroy of their opponents and dependent on the Opposition to carry their proposals. They will fight the matter out, and not retire from their position until constitutionally required to do so by an adverpolvote. The Post says:—"ln this determination they aro quite right, and a great mariy members, littlo as thoy may like some of tne Government proposals, will hesitate to ; join in any voto which would havo tho effect of transferring Ministerial power to any combination which oould possibly bo formed from the divided ranks of tho present Opposition. At the same time, Ministers must take care not to' press their well-wishers, ioo Bevoroly." THE POST AS A COUNSELLOR. Tbe same journal thus advises Freetraders in regard to their action on the tariff:—"Tho Government having explicitly declared that they do not wish tho revision of tho tariff to be treated as a party question, tho way is open to the Free Traders on each side of the House to do their utmost to, brwg the details of tho tariff into necord and synrpathy with the sound principle upau which it is professedly based, but from which it departs in several instances,' moro particularly those we havo specially mentioned. Striking out those items will involve no political crisis, nor afford the Protectionist party any opportunity of grasping tho power which, if obtained, they would certainly endeavor to use to tho great detriment of tho colony and its inhabitants by a mischievous extension of prohibitory Protection. It should always bo borne in rn,i«d that such a policy, once initiated, cannot afterwards be recedod from without large claims arising for compensation to vested interests. Tho colony has had bitter experience of this in the past. In tho matter of local distillation, Promotion, once imposed, becomes irrevocable." RESULTS OF PROTECTION. I\va facts are being quoted by Protectionists os evidences of the advantages arising from a i tringent tariff. The first is the action of Messrs Bnllinger Bros., of Wellington, who have taken preliminary steps already to add to thefc veot ks a branch for galvansing iron.. The second is a telegram from an, Auckland boot importer, saying that his shipment of boots coming out, on which tho duty would have been £3Q„ wiU now be £80, and consequently ho will bo compelled to stop importing, "">'■ That is the very thing wo are waning him to do," say tho Protectionists, v THE ULTRA-FREETRADERS WROTH.

3 The ultra-Freetraders nre very wroth at i tho Premier's attitude in respect tothe tariff, i Disoussing the matter to-day with a former supporter, ho remarked that Sir Harry Atkinson's proper course would be to repre- • sent to tho Governor that he could nov oorry ' on the affairs of the couutry without Veing t dependent on the support of #xa Opposition,. [ which would be placing him in an uticonL ' stitutional position. The clear duty of His ! Excellency would, under such circumstances bu to. accept Ministers' resignation aud , invito tho Pxomior to reform his Cabinet. This ho would be able to do by taking in , Mr Mitchelwon, and (say) Messrs Lance, Walker, and Dr. Fitchett, and tlie House would then be prepared for a Protective , tariff such as that now before the oouuiry. j The natural inference of that reiaark is that tho Premier means to. liUek to oflice at any ; cost. My lv)t\. friend went on to say that if the. Premier took this course ho would ' gbinmaud tho continued support of his own Immediate following, and would have undoubted claims on every Protectionist iv tho House. A RUMOR. Ono rumoi in connection ifie situatiou_ is that tho Freotr-ide portion of the Cabinet will not retain their seats if Sir Harry insists on forcing the Statement on tho House. Th; s, however, is exceedingly improbable, pa: ticularly as I am informed, on, good authority that Ministers were quite unanimous i 1 coming to tUc-decision iv the tariff proposi Is. SCOBffi MACKENZIE WRITES TO THE PREMIER. I hear that, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, who has boon very (.uiot since the delivery of the Financial Statement, wrote a lettey to the Premier to-day, but tho actual contents of' which Ido not know. I gather, however, that tho purpart was to say ho felt bound to voto against their tariff as laying heavy burdens on the people, which wero very repressive, and which, of course, could not bo removed when the exigency has passed away. I believe, however, that ho also expressed himself moro reluctant to be hostile now tiiau he was either at the closo of last session or the beginning of this. The more favorable view is, I believe, duo to tho fact that the Financial Statement shows that the Go/emmeiit, if not noting spontaneously iv cho matter, are at least willing to bo driven aito a sound financial position in tho matt t of public works and. wero more clearly recognising the trt\_ position of the countiy. MR WITHY. Mr Withy has mt written to tho Premier relative to h objection to tho tariff although ho hi. j informed tho Whips ho'will not support i■',. He tells me he will oppose every item that appears to bo at all Protective, becauso he considers, tfeftt it' will be a permanent tax,