THE COMING SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8282, 14 June 1890, Page 5

THE COMING SESSION.

ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION. PROPOSED NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. [BY tki/egravh.-—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. The Post opens its leading column, this afternoon, with the following, from which your readers may anticipate that the session will not pass without hot party battles : — "The position of the Ministry will be challenged immediately on the meeting of Parliament. Mr. Ballance, as leader of Opposition, will probably move a hostile amendment on the Address-in-Reply, or if the speech does not afford a convenient point of attack, a direct vote of want of confidence will be moved as soon as the reply is disposed of. Mr. Ballancc has, wo believe, been in communication with the members of the Opposition throughout the colony, and they are likely to muster strongly at the very commencement of the session to support the attack. Mr. Fergus's speech has placet! powerful weapons in their hands, and these will be used unsparingly. Of course neither Mr. Ballance nor his supporters expect any direct benefit from their attack even if it proves successful. No matter how badly they may be beaten, the present occupants of office will cling to their portfolios as long as they possibly can, and will appeal from the House to the country, as by so doing they would ensure a few months' more enjoyment of place and pay. Resignation would be the last thing they would think of, but a defeat upon any direct issue at the very commencement of the session would force their hand a good deal, and greatly complicate the perplexities of their position. A defeat would render reconstruction of any kind impossible. Sir Harry Atkinson could not retire without technically involving the resignation of the Ministry as a whole, and if he vacated the Premiership, His Excellency the Governor would certainly not bo justified in calling upon any member of the Ministry or of the Parliamentary minority to reconstruct. The constitutional course would be to send for the leader of the Opposition, if defeated ; therefore the Ministry will have to ask Parliament for supplies, abandon all attempts at the transaction of other business this session, and dissolve as quickly as possible. This, we presume, is the course which Mr. Ballance wishes to force upon them." The writer of the above article believes that a second session is inevitable.

THE " ADDRESS-IN-REPLY." No decision has yet been mado as to who shall move and second the Address-in-Reply to the Governor's Speech at the opening of Parliament. Only two members have been elected during the recess, namely, Mr. Arthur (East Coast), and the Hon. Mr. Bryco (Waipa). Mr. Bryce would hardly bo asked to repeat his Parliamentary novitiate now that he is a veteran. Mr. Arthur is not expected in Wellington until some time after the session has commenced. THE lIUTT ELECTORATE. The candidature of Dr. Newman for the representation of this district by invitation of the electors in various parts of the district, is definitely announced. CABINET COUNCIL. Ministers sat in Cabinet this morning and afternoon. The Minister of Lands has not yet arrived from the South.