NEW PARTY COMBINATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7342, 1 June 1885, Page 5

NEW PARTY COMBINATION.

[by telegraph.—ows- correspondents.] I : , ' .. . "■.- . Wellington, Saturday. Li have made further inquiries respecting the party movement -said to be in progress in Otago, and' And that it is believed to be true by the best informed political : men' in Wei-; lington; I heard to-day that a member of the Legislative Council,' who was - closely connected' with the Government last session of Parliament, and who is at" present in Wellington, confirms the statement, Two at least of the Wellington members have heard it, and believe it to be exceedingly probable. They are of .opinion that ...the movement will have the effect of. strengthening Major Atkinson's party ■by • rendering ,it compact and united. They believe that the majority of the. electorates of 1 Wellington will go with Major AtkinsonV party. . The strength of the present Government, they say, lies chiefly in the West Coast of the Middle Island and Canterbury. They do not indicate how the Auckland representatives will be affected by the new combination,; but they believe that, Major Atkinson has. a, very considerable support in the North. They, consider that the Auckland vote will very much depend upon the relations that are likely to arise between the opposite political, elepients which will be evolved during the session. • I have heard it even stated that If the Government - should rbe defeated upon any vital ✓ question they will' appeal • to the country. •It:is •• said .. that -the' Government would be in a position to ask for. a dissoluI tion, inasmuch as last session their, measures | were entirely tentative, and the - country ! ffould be entitled to express an opinion upon 'J their" matured . policy. The question . immediately arises, .what would | be considered a vital part of their policy ? | The, answer I have heard given to this is j that the Local Government Bill is likely to furnish a field of battle for the next Parlia- , mentary campaign. The difference between i f he ,Atkinßqn ; party and ..the, present Government on this question is wide, the points of divergence are' obvious • and definite. It is said that , the opinion, of the electorates might be taken upon'this question, which concerns every part of the colony, and that the opinion taken would determine for the future the direction which . local. government would take. The new party Is said to hfive its own battle cry, but no one appears, ! to' know exactly. wh&t it is. . i . send you these" item* of political gossip, ~ without expressing an opinion of my own. lean only vouch that they ' are gathered from gentlemen prominently engaged in polifciaal life, some/of whom arewell informed of all that passes in regard to political parties; If I were: at liberty to mention their names, I think you would allow that some of. them are in a position to speak