POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7337, 8 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]. WELLINGTON, October 7. Preparing to Quit. The Ministerial residences have been completely dismantled, and the occupants are ready to quit them immediately their successors have been sworn. Sir It. Stout. Sir Robert assures me that there is not the slightest truth in the statement circulated that he intends to settle in Victoria, and says that as so many lies have been published concerning him, he did not trouble to give the rumor an authoritative denial. I hear from reliable sources that overtures were made to him to remain in Wellington, but he positively refused to leave Dunedin at present, Sir Robeit takes a keen interest in matters political, and will doubtless re-enter politics at the next election, if not sooner. He speaks approvingly of Major Atkinson, and describes the attempt to make Captain Russell the nominal head of the Government as a " shameful intrigue." The prevailing opinion here is that had Sir Robert been returned all the existing difficulties would have been removed by the formation of a Stout-Atkinson Administration. The Young New Zealand Party.

The hope of forming a strong Yonng New Zealand party, of which so much was heard during the election campaign, seems tc be exploding. The Canterbury phalanx, which would be an integral part of such a body, appear to be returned with the one resolve viz., of proscuting the Midland Railway ; and this of course will not chime in with the sentiments of the young politicians from the Northern and Southern constituencies. It is amusing to watch the efforts made hy leading men in the House to secure the support of the young blood. One of them, in explaining to me the persuasions used to secure his allegiance, likened the process to trout fishing, profuse promises being the bait to allure the young fry. An Attorney-General Discounted, In dealing with the difficulties presented to f;he Cabinet-makers, the ' Evening Press' says:—" Two at least of the' sp-oalled difficulties of the political situation are really neither more nor less than great opportunities of doing good in the public interests. We mean the difficulty of obtaining an Attorney-General from a party containing no lawyer of eminence, and the difficulty of giving Canterbury a representative in the Cabinet when four-fifths of the Canterbury members are on the wrong side, and very unfit men besides. The way to get over those difficulties is very simple. It is to do without any Attorney-General and to leave Canterbury without a representative in the Cabinet. There is no necessity for an Attorney-General as regards anything lawfully to be done or suffered by that official, because the Solicitor-General can fill his place. Neither is there any advantage to anybody in having an Attorney-General in Parliament, because the Government can always consult the Law Officers when they want advice; while the business of Parliament is not to learn the law but to make the law. On the other hand, there are„ very strong reasons, indeed why the office of polltioal Attorney - General should be abolished. The late occupant of that office has thrown these reasons into special prominence. The manner in which he abused his position, by pursuing his private practice to the neglect of public affairs, was a public scandal. So much was this the case that last session Sir G. Grey gave notice of a Bill to prevent the AttorneyGeneral from engaging in private practice while holding the office of Premier. Sir Of. Grey should have gone a Step farther, and made it unlawful for a political AttorneyGeneral to practice in the Courts at all. There is nothing novel in this idea, for it will be recollected that when Major Atkinson formed his last short-lived Ministry he did not allot a portfolio of AttorneyGeneral." A Southland Caucus. The Southland members held a meeting this afternoon, and it was attended by Messrs G. F. Richardson, Cowan, Ward, Valentine, Hodgkinaqn, and Feldwick. TJie opinion was unanimous not to offer any factious opposition, and to vote for Major Atkinson as against a no-confidence till the proposals of the new Cabinet were sub. mitted, but on the understanding that the proposals would be submitted at an early date, say within a fortnight. October 8. Vogelisin Not Yet Dead.' "■

Efforts are being made to induce Major Atkinson to consent to the adjournment of the "House. for a fortnight, until the Financial Statement is ready. It is believed that this would prevent. Sir Julius Vogel and his party throwing any element of discord into the new party. The Young New Zealand Party. At an adjourned meeting of the Young New Zealand party held this forenoon, attended by Messrs Allen, Rhodes, Ward Peroeval, M'Gregor, Valentine, Hodgkinson, Feldwick, Carroll, M'Kenzie (Clutha), Anderson, and Dr Fitohett, it was resolved to give qualified support to Major Atkinson till the Financial Statement is brought down, and that if any unnecessary delay was shown in bringing that Statement down the support be withdrawn. It was stated that the general policy of the Government would be declared in His Excellency's speech oh Wednesday,