DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9323, 28 March 1889, Page 5

DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Times this morning has a leader on the reported Ministerial dissensions, in the course of which it says :—" For a long time past it has been no secret that relations wore somewhat severely strained between the Minister of Education and Customs and his colleagues. We say advisedly that it has been no secret. Usually Cabinet differences are concealed with more or less completeness under a decorous veil of reticence. In the present case this custom has nob boon invariably observed by one, at any rato, of the porsons concerned, and so it has come about that city gossip has had a good deal to sny about the want of accord between the Minister for Education and Customs on the one hand and the rest of Ministers on the other. Everyone has been made aware that Mr. Fisher and his colleagues could not, :i«too. Nobody was much surprised. Mr. Fisher is not always able to get on well with his associates. There was once an tinfortunate juryman whose ill-luck ib was, according to his own account, to be always associated with eleven obstinate and pigheaded men, who differed from him, and whom no amount of argument would convince of their error. Similarly, Mr. Fisher has the misfortune to bo one of a Ministry all of whoso othor members hold views, in his opinion, utterly wrong-headed, and display reprehensible bigotry in refusing to bo convcrtod. What should bo done in these circumstances Ought the majority of all but one or the minority of one to retire? At present the probabilities seem to bo- rather in favour of the latter alternative being adopted." The evening paper construes the above as an " appeal through the press by ono Minister to force the retirement of another," and proceeds: —" We havo on many occasions referred to the want of personal unanimity existing amongst that fortuitous concourse of political atoms, yclept, the Atkinson Cabinet, and now the fact is admitted by the official organ, which makes an attack, evidently inspired by one or more Ministers on ono of his or their colleagues, and publicly demands his resignation." These extracts are sufficient to show the present "situation," which is clearly not a pleasant one for any of tho parties connected with it. What further development is likely must be left to tho succession of events.