THE MINISTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8987, 19 September 1892, Page 5

THE MINISTRY.

ALLEGED STRAINED RELATIONS. LOBBY GOSSIP. [BY telegraph— correspondent.] Wellington, Sunday. Fresh rumours are afloat of strained relations in the Cabinet. Lobby gossip has noted the fact that certain Ministers who used to address one another familiarly, without using the "handle" to the name, now are most particular in invariably employing the formal " Mr.," and in fact are quite too elaborately polite for anything ; also, there is said to have been a sharp little wrangle in the Ministerial-room, on Friday night, in consequence of the Estimates being rushed on, to the exclusion of a Bill which one Minister was particularly anxious to go on with. The disappointed Minister expressed his feelings on the subject very openly and vigorously. It is freely asserted that should Mr. Ballance's health unhappily require his retirement from active politics the reconstructed Ministry would assuredly be very differently constituted from the present as regards its personnel. This would mean serious dissensions in the ranks, and would probably lead to a material readjustment of party lines, consequently the sole hope of maintaining the present cohesion in the Ministerial party consists in Mr. Ballance continuing able to retain the lead. lb is said that the perception of the fact has added not a little to the Premier's anxiety during his late illness. He appears much better at present, but has evidently been much shaken in strength by his attack.