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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7403, 11 August 1885, Page 4

It is difficult to forecast the probable outcome of the state of parties at Wellington. Defections from the ranks of the Ministerial supporters are increasing, but the Opposition does not appear to be getting any better consolidated. The position is accordingly that of a Ministry holding office on pure sufferance, while an amalgamation of the dissentients from their policy, sufficient to oust the existing Cabinet and supply another in its stead, seems unattainable. The stumbling block in the path of the Opposition loaders is evidently this East and West Coast Rail-

way affair. So loug as that knotty ques-

tion remains undisposed of, the Canterbury, Nelson, and Westland members are sure to combine against any Ministry that does not at least pledge itself to make the attempt to forward their purpose ; and there are a number in the House who would, on other considerations, unite with them in sealing that Cabinet's doom. This is a fate which any one of the

reputed leaders does not care to invite. Apart from this, too, there are peculiar

circumstances which naturally deter some of them from undertaking the responsibility of moving for the overthrow or the Ministry. Major Atkinson, who perhaps ha 3 the most numerous and most compact body of followers, is not in favour with any of the other sections, and appears to be specially obnoxious to the majority of the Southern members. Mr. Ormond is less the object of Southern aversion, but he has no distinctive following. Sir George Grey, though individually a power in the House, is also more or less isolated from ail the parlies into which members have formed themselves. There seems, therefore, only two alternative ways in which the disorganised state of the Honse can be terminated. Either the existing Ministry must be reconstructed, by the extrusion of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr. Larnach, and the inclusion of Messrs. Montgomery and Macandrew, as rumour declares to be coutemplat-ed ; or the different sections of the Opposition must range themselves under a wholly new leader. The former of these projected methods of escape from the deadlock we are constrained to regard as improbable ; because a Cabinet constructed as above, and with Sir Julius Yogel estranged from its support, would enjoy a very brief tenure of power. The latter of the courses suggested appears the only feasible one, and might easily be taken successfully if the old leaders in the ranks of the Opposition were swayed by even a little self-denial and patriotism. The chief question is, who is the possible leader, possessed of acceptability sufficient to prove a rallying power to broken forces, and give promise of a stable Government ? These requisites are, we think, to be found in Captain Russell, of Hawke's Bay. Gentlemanly in manner, a fluent speaker, and a good business man, with other qualities that make him generally a favourite, he of all the members of the Opposition is most likely to rally around him the several groups of which that side of the House is composed. Were a Ministry formed under his Premiership, consisting mainly of the rising young members in both of the two leading parties in the House, a general and cordial support would be secure to it for the remainder of the session ; and on Parliament re-assembling, one or two members of greater administrative experience could be induced to take office. We shall therefore not be at all surprised to learn some of these days that the general desire of the House has been centred on this gentleman as the only hope of evolving order out of an ever-increasing confusion.