POLITICAL RUMOURS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9424, 23 July 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL RUMOURS.

REPORTED SPLIT IN THE CABINET. AUTHORITATIVE DENIAL. NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. [BY TKLEGRAPH. —SPKCIAIj OOKIIKSVONDKNT.] Vkllito, Monday. A ridiculous rumour got afloat this morning and spread like wild fire. It was that, there had been a, fatal split in the Cabinet over the Ward-Hislop affair, and that Messrs. Fergus and Hislop had bot.li resigned. This was accentuated by the spectacle of all the Ministers going up to Government House. It was at once reported that the whole Ministry had resigned, and that a reconstruction way imminent. The wholo affair of course was a pure canard, having been started bv some mischievous pressman as a practical joke, and the presence of Ministers at Government House was due to the fact that an Executive Council had to be held.

I am assured on positive authority that no dissensions have occurred, and that, the Cabinet are really in accord on all questions of policy, and certainly on lie Ward-Hislop affair. Another report, which has much more foundation in fact, is that a no confidence motion is possibly landing. It is quite t rue that, this is being seriously considered tonight, and may yet come off. The town members are furious with the Government, for entirely joining with the country members on the quota question, and the scheme is to enlist the support of as many as possible, of the country members who are opposed to the Government generally. The latter, however, see that this is only planned to defeat them on the quota question, and so far they are indisposed to be thus made tools of. It is uncertain what will be the outcome of these deliberations on the proposal. The only result, of course, would bean immediate dissolution and an election of a new Parliament with a reduced number of members. lam inclined to doubt of anything coming of it. A meeting of town members was held this morning, when it was decided to continue the debate, and move Mr. Barron's amendment, that the present quota should not be disturbed till there had been an appeal to the country.