POLITICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8539, 13 April 1891, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. REPORTED FRICTION IN THE CABINET. LEADERSHIP OF THE OPPOSITION. [BY TKLKGKA I'M. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. Something has given an extraordinary impetus to political gossip. It is stated that there is friction in the Cabinet, in consequence of the Minister of Public Works being so prodigal of promises during his recent trip to the South. "The man in the street" believes that the promises are likely to embarrass the Government, in the face of a local movement threatened by Mr. Grimmond, M.H.R. for Hokitika, to stop works in the district, which if acted upon would cause pressure to be brought upon the Govornment for relief works. I have authority for stating that there is no such friction in the Cabinet. I have heard from an opponent of Mr. Seddon, and a man of great official experience, that the Public Works Minister is (except the Premier) the strongest member of the Cabinet just now. It is, however, true that the supporters of the Government regard his political action recently as leading up to a political embarrassment, which may have important consequences. All the local prints here are moved by some internal or external impulse to comment upon the present position of the Government. They look upon the danger of the coming session as likely to come from within the Cabinet rather than from outside it. Immediately after the last session I informed you that there was considerable division among the opponents of the Government on the question of the leadership of the Opposition. I now learn that the Hon. Mr. Bryce is not likely to accept that position, even if it be offered to him, and that the contest, if the term can be properly employed in respect of a matter of this sort, will bo between the Hon. Mr. Rolleston and the Hon. Captain Russell. It was said at that time that Messrs. Macarthur, Scobie Mackenzie, and a party of young members supported Mr. Rolleston, bub that what was formerly known as the " Young New Zealand party" strongly objected to Mr. Rolleston, not through opposition to him personally, but that they desired a younger leader in whom they could have confidence. They were somewhat irritated that Mr. Macarthur, who is regarded as the future Treasurer of the party, should have gone with Mr. Rolleston, but I now understand that Mr. Macarthur is once more with his former friends, and that Mr. S. Mackenzie is likely to follow in his wake. This position, of course, greatly reduces the Hon. Mr. Rolleston's chance of being the new leader of the Opposition. Iu justice to Mr. Rolleston, I am bound to state from all I hear, that he is not particularly ambitious of the leadership of the Opposition. He simply places himself in the hands of the Opposition as a whole, and prefers not to be the occasion of any division between its mernbors. If this be correct, and I firmly believe it, the two principal names in politics are removed from the front of the future Parliamentary strife. Then who is to be leader ? I think I will prove to bo a true prophet on this as on several other occasions. Tho success of Captain Russell at the Federal Convention meeting in Sydney lias kept his name prominently before the public as the chief man among the younger school of New Zealand politicians. He was regarded as the most capable man of the Atkinson Cabinet when any political measure had to be brought before the House. He is nominally, and was, I believe, really, tho chief of the young New Zealand party up to the time he took office in the late Government. I have therefore no doubt that he will be the favourable candidate with that party when Parliament meets. They are numerous and strong enough to place him at the head of the Opposition, and his vigour, popularity, and admitted capacity for affairs, go to make this result almost certain.