AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11925, 25 December 1900, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

FORMING THIC FIRST MINISTRY.

SIB W. J. LYNE IIETIIJES.

MR E. BARTON SENT FOR

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, December 24.

(Received Dec. 2% at 9.19 a.m.)

The Sydney Morning Herald states that Sir W. J. Lyne has met with unexpected difficulties in securing the adhesion of the statesmen of the other colonies. The situation is most complicated, but so far as can he gathered negotiations are not broken off. The attitude that Sir G. Turner and Mr Holder took up was that the first Ministry must be a. strong federal one, and owing to the importance of the issue at stake they would not feel justified in joining Sir W. J. Lyne, or in assisting him to form what they might consider a weak Cabinet. ■ Tiie Herald understands that Sir W. J. Lyne informed them that even without their assistance he had every hope of forming a strong Government, and would persist in his effort. It also transpires that Sir G. Turner and. Mr Holder had an interview with Mr Barton on Saturday.

The Telegraph .states that when Sir W. ■I. Lyne was seen on Saturday evening lie wars apparently disturbed in mind, !jut after Sunday's conference he was more himself. The paper infers tlmt there was a hitch in the early part of'the proceedings, but that afterwards a better understanding was come to. (Received Dee. 24, at 9.51 a.m.) Sir G-. Turner informed nn interviewer that he had no desire to join the Federal Ministry now. He intends to retain the Victorian .Ministry and to contest a seat for the Federal Parliament, but, he has no desire to set office, the state of his health bein;; against his doim; so. It is announced tlmt owing to the stite of bis honlfh LnrcT ITopetoun wil' he unab'.e to attend the State hnnqiK'l; on .Tanuarv 1. The TcWraph adds tint a enmlitinn;,l understanding was arrived nt. but which it was agreed should i-fmain secret until if w seen whether Hie nc.crnt-iations that will bo the outcome thereof are efl'fietUMl. Sir W. J. Lvne was offered conditions by two Pi'oinie.rs. and it wiH dspend upon himself whethe'- he neenfs them. (P.eceivprl "Dec. 24, at 11 p.m.) Every available space on the procession route has been seim-ed. Many roofs hare been tiMiisform-;d into stum's for si<r!;tsr»r«. s'li'in hjjntr cupnliW nf lmldin" thous'ltnrk Pminv pvirp, are h«in<* afield. Al'•eadv over <W of the smaller stands have been cinflnmnn!' as u"--af<\ (l^c^-crl T) 0( , •25 ~t i 7,1 „m ) Sir W. -T. J,,-,,0 1,,,,, rflinrnii'liri' (lie fnv-mnl-inii of a "Vi n istr v . after fuller (■<"«- --->"'ini".i(•'»„-: with nU.-r Prnmi»r«. inelinlinSir .T. ■Pnrvcst. nf Wr^r.-ilin. w! ; n arrived nf- .AfM-,:,1,. in-d.v. ;mrl a ™-f»rence during th» f.ffernn'.t, v.-i+li L-yrtl P'opetoiin. /T!pnr.; rnr i tv c . 9,R. „< 1.97 a.m.) Tt. is just officially Jinmn-^-d tlmt Sir W. J. T.viir vrnited 011 T, o]v l TTon^oun and inWm»d him Hint lie \.-i« »ivil-1.. to form a Ministry vhWi he roneMorcl snfficieniVv representniive of Australia.

Lord Hopetoun sent for Mr Barton, who undertook to form a Ministry, Sir W. J. Lyne accepting a portfolio under Mr Barton's Premiership.

MELBOURNE, December 24. (Received Dec. 24, at 1.1.5 p.m.)

Sir 6. Turner hns wired from Sydney stating definitely that no agreements were arrived art at the Premiers' Conference. It is believed here Sir G. Turner and Mr Holder favoured Mr Barton forming the Ministry, Sir W. J. Lyno.taking prominent office under him. (Received Dec. 24, at 11.5 p.m.) The Argus special correspondent telegraphed from Sydney that Sir G. Turner and Mr Holder' intimated to Sir W. J. Lyne that their coming to Sydney was a simple act of courtesy, and did not pledge them in any way to support him. They intimated that they clearly considered Mr Barton the man who should form the first Federal Ministry, though they did not in any way impugn Lord Hopetoun's action. Tiiey thought the head of the Federal Ministry should be a federalist. The visit was undertaken to induce Sir W. J. Lyne to advise the Governor-General to send for Mr Barton.

Mr D. E. Theomin proceeded to Sydney by Hi? Mnkoia tn-dny to represent the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce at the Commonwealth functions.