MINISTERIAL DIFFERENCES.

Evening Star, Issue 7627, 1 June 1888, Page 2

MINISTERIAL DIFFERENCES.

THE RUMORED RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTER FOR WORKS. [From OtJR Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, May 31. No small amount of sensation was caused yesterday afternoon by the report, which circulated like wild-fife, that the Hon, E. Mitchelson (Minister ftfr Works) had resigned his portfolio in consequence of differences with the Hon. G. Fisher (Minister of Education). The absence of Mr Mitchelson from the Ministerial benches when the House met and ths fact that papers pertaining to his department were presented by the Minister of Lands, lent color to the report, and a question as to whether it was true was accordingly asked by Mr Seddon. The PreMl£r replied that there was no truth whatever in the statement, and the reason for his colleague's absence was that he was very busy with departmental work. The Premier added that the current reports about dissensions in the Cabinet, and the statements that Ministers were fighting up to the very last moment over the Budget, were all moonshine. This assurance was I received with applause. ' As a matter of fact the Premier very adroitly fenced the question. It is true that Mr Mitchelson had not resigned, but it was perfectly true that the Hon. Mr Mitchelson contemplated such a course, and that it was a very short time indeed before the Premier gave the reply referred to that he succeeded in arranging rather 'serious differences between the Ministers in question. The matter went so far that Mr Mitchelson refused to attend the Cabinet meetings during the last two days, and this difficulty was the cause of very grave anxiety to the other Ministers and those of their partisans who were aware of the trouble. The differences did not really occur in Cabinet, but were in consequence of the question which Mr Fisher induced Mr Cadman to place on the Older Paper relative to matters that had been under the administration of the previous Minister for Public Works. Mr Mitchelson was annoyed at such a course of action being pursued by a colleague, and did not attempt to conceal his feelings. Hence the trouble. The quarrel had assumed a very critical aspect, when the Premier succeeded in patching the affair up. It is no secret that the relations between Mr Mitchelßon and Mr Fisher have been of anything but a cordial nature for i some time paat, and that serious difference occurred between them relative to the acceptance of the tender for the reconstruction of the General Post Office and the running of Maguire's ballast waggons over the Government reclaimed land at Wellington ; indeed, the latter quarrel had proceeded eo far that Mr Mitchelson, who has never shown any inclination to briDg to bear on the administration of his office what is supposed to be a prominent characteristic of some politicians, actually resigned his seat in the Cabinet. On that occasion, as in the present case, the Premier was the peacemaker.