THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6462, 30 September 1887, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

(BY TKLKUSAPH. !

Wellington, Sap'emb'r 29.

The Pre»s Aiaocia'ion is in a position to supply th» following information regarding the political crina. All the Miuidter*. exctpt Mr Richardson will be h.>re to-morrow, »nd the latter will arrive on Saturday. As Sir Robert Stout has announcad his intention to retire from puViiio life for tha present, there ia no rlnubt ha will give in hia resignation to th 9 Governor, and bit resianatioa wiil carry wifh it that of tho whole Government. Thn Governor will then ask him to hold office until successors to the Government are prepared to b;> sforn iv, and hit Eioallency will probably at onc9 ■end for some one to form a new Govoru mont. In 1884 M jir A kinson d^l iyed giving in his resignation ua'H P-irlivnunt met, his reasons biin</ thai, in the ahseno? of members from W»llin2t"n there was difficulty in nuking necessary arrtoqe menta and holding the u*u *1 conference. Tim re 19, however nothing in fch-i point, for after the reiignition is given in, it r*s'<i with the Governor as t-> whom he will send for, and if he sends fur Major Atkinson he will have to await his arrival. If Mdjir Atkinson underiakoa the task, ho will ask for the time he considers necessary to perform it. Tie po<albilititjt, therefor*, poiat to tbe Government immediately tonderia? their rosiijnaMoni, and holding offici at the request of tbe Governor until the new Gjvernraeat is formed. There is another point about which twe is a general mitcmc^p'ion. A retiring minister do-s not volunteer sdvice ; he only gives it if requested to do so. In 1884 the G>vernor did uot ask Major A'kinson for alvioe, and probably he will follow the sime ooursd on the preaeat occasion.