THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

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

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

[From Odr Parliamentary Bxpobtkb.l WELLINGTON, Ooto»r 7# Arranging the Cabinet. The Opposition caucus this afternoon m, without any tangible result, and so far m odd might judge from what is shown on the surfata the position is decidedly "as you were." Bufe those who are in the confidence of the leaders ,' of the party say tlat during this period of % apparent inaction and conference the pulse of the House is being carefully felt, and that the arrangement of a Cabinet in sympathy with what appears to be the feeling of the majority of the new Parliament is being proceeded with. At the moment of writing (late on Friday night) it appears quite probable that the new Ministry will be sworn in to-morrow. The Reason for Delay. The reason given for this apparent delay is simple. It was obvious from the expression of opinion at the first caucus that the majority of the Southern members in the party were averse to Major Atkinson, and it was impossible that any other leader, apart from Sir J. Vogeh could be found. The objeot of the delay was, therefore, that every other alternative must be exhausted before Major Atkinson was put forward. This has been done, and four probable men have declined to aocept office. TheHons. M'Lean and Waterhouse and Captain Russell have since been suggested; but in each instance the proposal did not find sufficient favor. The desired object has, however, been obtained, and members, seeing that it is absolutely a question of Sir J. Vogel on the one hand and Major Atkinson on the other, will give their support to the latter, in the belief that he is the more likely man to carry into effect the great scheme of retrenchment which the country is demanding. The Second Caucus. Quite a number of those who were present at the caucus yesterday absented themselves today, as there were only forty-two present, including several members who had not reached Wellington in time for the first caucus. It was suggested that the majority of those who were absent were Southern men who are averse to committing themselves to Major Atkinson for the present. No question of policy beyond thatof retrenchment was discussed to-day, and the main question under discussion was really the choice of Premier. The Southern prejudice against Atkinson was occasionally displayed, but it was quite evident that the only alternative was Vogel. Sydney Tawhianga, one of the new members for the Northern Maori district, occasioned some amusement at the caucus. He said that he had tried for twenty years to get into Parl;amenr, and had contested seatsat nine different elections. Having now succeeded, he came to represent, not the Natives north of Auckland, Lut the whole Colony. Sydney then came to grief over an elaborate statement showing the extent of the bon owing by various Ministers wbo had held office, the calculation really being one whiph had been published in various papers. Sydney started off by crediting Sir Julius Vogel with 116,500,000, and gave each Minister in turn, being innocnt of the fact that the , estimate was oue of the ampunt borrowed while I each Minister was in office, and that the same loan appeared to the credit of each member of I the Cabinet who was in office at the time. He '. concluded his statement with the astounding | declaration that the total amount borrowed by , these spendthrift Ministers was L.105,000,000. . Great laughter followed his amusing calculaItipn. An Unsuccessful Intrigue. Among the possible leaders of the House the name of Captain Russell was suggested this afternoon, and it is said that intrigue was ' entered into by those who were opposed to both Major Atkinson and Sir J. Vogel, with the view ' of getting the hon. member for Hastings to act as the nominal head of the Government. It was urged that as Captain Russell had successfully carried a resolution in the last Parliament directing the Government to reduce their Public Works Estimates by half-a-million, and as he was much respected by both sides of the House, he was eminently su'ted for the poet. The hon. gentleman, however, was averse to havirg so barren an honor as the figure-head of a Cabinet, thrust on him, and the proposal was I not persevered with. I An Example to Office-seekers. I mentioned in a previous telegram that both Mr Ormond and Sir John Hall had declined office in the new Ministry, and it will now be ' news to your readers that either Sir George Grey or Sir Frederick Whitaker could have had the position of Premier in the new Cabinet; but they declined to accept it. Sir George : Grey's reasons were stated at the Opposition caucus to-day, while Sir Frederick Whitaker's ; health would not permit him to take the Prej miership. It is still probable that Sir Frederick , will be chosen as Attorney-General, unless it is desided not to allot the portfolio. Distinguishing Features of the House. One of the older members of the House says that to his mind the distinguishing . features of the present Parliament are the j greater earnestness on the part' of the new j members, and a greater sense of responsibility in all, from the fact that they feel the country is watching them, and in earnest too. No member has yet turned up who has a job in hand for his district. No money is expected, and all are bent on retrenchment. The prestige of the old parties is destroyed by the defeat of so many of their leadii/g member;. The all-pervading feeling is that the country is in a difficulty which demands the earnest fxextions of all, consequently there is an impatience of lobbying and intrigue quite new among mem* . bers. The House is a very promising one. The ; young members appear likely to take things out iof the old groove. One outcome of the present crisis is the development of A New Political " Bogey." Sir G. Grey was for some years the bogey of the Hall-AtKinson party. The cry of " Keep out Grey" made the House swallow everything. I Then Major Atkinson was Vlogel's bogey, and now Vogel is Atkinson's. " Keep out Vogel" is the present cry; and in this case the country echoes it. j Suggested Policies, | As a set-off to retrenchment, anything approaching thorough retrenchment would be exceedingly unpopular. Three schemes which | would commend themselves favorably to the pnblio at large have been suggested as a ; counterpoise. These are—firstly, the rei moving of the restrictions to land settlej ment, so as to allow the would-be settler I to take up- land under the dererred-paymenf ! perpetual lease or rash system at will, and in area from the smallest desired quantity upon the present legal limits; secondly; the appointment of a Commission to re-value the deferredpayment and perpetual-leased Crown lands, so that where exceraive prices baye been paid the tenants may be relieved, and 'the difficulties of ttettlement be thereby Adjusted ; and fin&VJy, & complete revision of the railway management and of railway freights, taxation, and loans. In the course of conversation this evening with Major Atkinson, he assured me that contingent on taking office he has no intention of increasing the Tariff, and that the present taxation will suffice. In the meantime, at all events, the property tax will bs continued. The Major added that no loan is to be raised during the present year. The Financial Statement. In answer to my question, Major Atkinson said that if the Ministry were 'sworn in tomorrow (Saturday), as was probable, he hoped to be able to make his Financial Statement'in , about a'fortnight's time, and that his proposals would give full effect to the popular demand for the curtailment of public expenditure. I ' Probable' Length of the Session. On being pressed to give his idea as 'to the probable length of the. session, he frankly repeplied; " That is a difficult question till I see , how the Fnancial Statement takes. If it is well received, as I have every reason to think it will be, the session should not be a long one, as it )'b undesirable to go into policy questions at present." It may be inferred fromthis that, with plain sailing, members will be at their homes early in December. The Continuous Ministry Cry* The member for Egmont is fully alive' to the necessity of getting rid of the Continuous Ministry cry, and u assigning his portfolios will therefore go in strongly for new blood. Jt is safe to hazard an opinion that the majority of the occupants of the Treasury benches will not have before served as Ministers of the Crown. Commencing at the Bight End. The Ministerial proposal for the reduction of salaries will probably be 1500 off the Premier andL26ooff the others, making L 2.000 in aIL Members' honorarium will be cut down by L6O, and that of the Council by LMOO. Another Step In the Bight Direction. I hear on reliable authority that Major Atkinson favors bringing in a Bill to reduce the number of members to seventy; to take effect on the expiry of the pre ent Parliament.