Political.

Otago Witness, Issue 1586, 15 April 1882, Page 22

Political .

THE MINISTEEIAL SITUATION.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) Christohurch, April Sfch. From roliable information obtained here it may be regarded as all but certain that the Premier will resign. The latest account of his health is unsatisfactory. It is uncertain whom he will recommend the Governor to send for or what course his Excellency will take. Major Atkinson is his most probable successor.

WELLINGTON,ApriI Bth. Mr Hall is a little better to-day, but is still in a very unsatisfactory condition. Nothing an thentic has yet transpired relative to the Ministerial situation, nor do I expect to learn anything fresh for a few days. FORMAL RESIGNATION OF MINISTRY. '

DENIAL OF RUMOURED DISSENSIONS. Wellington, April 10th. Up to the present time Ministers have been strictly reticent as regarding the " situation," and they will continue so. They say they do not feel at liberty to give any information beyond the fact that the Premier's illness renders it doubtful whether he can remain at the head of the Government. However, this afternoon Dr Grace informed me that he had the Premier's authority for telling me that Ministers had tendered their resignations to the Governor, by whom they had' been accepted, and that the Ministry only remained in office until the appointment of their successors. I also now learn on authority that his Excellency telegraphed yesterday morning for the Hinemoa to be sent downtoLyttelton for him, and that being done, Sir Arthur has announced his intention of returning to Wellington on Tuesday. Further, I learn that on Saturday ing Mr Hall, who had appeared a little better duringtheday, became so much worse as to excite the liveliest alarm on the part of his medical attendant, who promptly sought Major Atkinson and told him plainly that unless the Premier was instantly released of all official work, responsibility, and worry he would, not be answerable for the consequences— which threatened to be very serious, some exceedingly disquieting symptoms having developed them selves. Dr Grace ' also contended that it was due to himself, as Mr Hall's medical adviser, that it should be publicly known that he had thus advised, otherwise he might be held severely censurable should unfavourable consequences ensue. He accordingly published his letter of the 4th inst. to Major Atkinson, a copy of which was telegraphed by Association last night. I hear Major Atkinson and the other Ministers were very anxious ■ that Mr Hall should remain as the nominal head of the Ministry, giving up all departmental work and merely acting as Premier— that is to say, dealing with any Government policy which might arise, but not wealing himself out with official work; but unfortunately Mr Hall's sense of public duty ' and personal responsibility is so strong that, it seems almost hopeless to , expect he would submit to such a restriction of his labours if he remained a member of the Cabinet, especially as its head. Such in fact is i,the view of Dr Grace, who absolutely declines to countenance his patient in remaining any longer in the trying position to which his impaired health is so manifestly unequal. He has good hopes that once relieved of the cares of office Mr Hall's health will gradually recover at any rate its normal tone. But he holds this is impossible while there is the perpetual irritation of official worry. This then is, I am positively informed, tho true position of affairs. The old rumour is being again circulated to-day that Mr Hall's illness is being merely used as a pretext for reconstruction, a total rupture having occurred between Mr Whitaker and Mr Bryce on the question of the removal of the Native Land Court from Auckland, and it is further reported that Mr Whitaker has resigned. I am assured, however, and in this instance on direct authority, that there is not the slightest foundation for this story. There was a trifling difference of opinion between Mr Bryce and Mr Whitaker on the subject indicated, but apcrsonai interview promptly set things right, and a thoroughly amicable understanding was come • to on the matter. Mr Whitaker has not resigned, excepting so far as his resignation is, of course, involved in that of his chief. I am also positively informed that there has been no dissension at all in the Cabinet on any question of policy, but that the whole cause of the present crisis is the unfortunate breakdown of the Premier'. 1 , health, which unlucky event, however rogretable, is no surprise to Mr Hall's friends, whose only wonder is that he has borne up so long. It is supposed that tho Governor, following constitutional precedent, will send for either Major Atkinson or Mr Whitaker (both expi'omiers) and request him to undertake the rPL'onstiuction of tho Ministry. This, of course, cannot be definitely known until his .Excellency's arrival. Wellington, April 11th. The political situation has developed some new and remarkable features. It is quite true, s stated in an Auckland Press Association

telegram, that the Governor has sent for Sir George Grey, and that the latter is now on his way down to Wellington ; but it is not true that the late Government failed to make the , usual recommendation as to whom in their opinion it was advisable that the Governor should, send for and entrust with the formation of a new Ministry or the reconstruction of the old one. On the contrary, I have the strongest reason for believing that Mr Hall, in forwarding his resignation, did make a very distinct recommendation to his Excellency as to the course he deemed expedient to be pursued. That recommendation his Excellency apparently has not thought proper to adopt— at least, to the best of my knowledge, he has not yet 'sent for the person indicated by his late chief adviser, and he has sent for another whom assuredly he would not have been advised to summon to his counsels. It must not, however, be supposed that bir Arthur Gordon has yet entrusted Sir George Grey with the formation of a new Ministry. I am convinced that his Excellency has not gone so far as this at present, whatever he may do after a consultation with his old friend Grey I have excellent reasons to think that his Excellency has struck out a novel and bold line, based on a total misconception of a custom which is winked at by constitutional law and practice, but which is very rarely followed. It is recognised to be competent for the Crown in certain cases where troublesome political complications are involved— a Ministerial party disorganised rendering it an exceptionally difficult task and a grave responsibility to select the person to whom the formation of a new Cabinet is to be confided— to call in "tried and trusty Privy Councillors' to confer with the Sovereign on the position relative to the strength and views of the various political parties and factions, and to give such informatioffand advice as may be in his power to afford ; but it is unusual to select persons who are not immediately and individually associated with current politics or connected with any contending faction, although the principle itself might be stretched so far as to include consultation with the Opposition leader as to the strength and views of his folThis'is the course which Sir Arthur Gordon ig understood to have proposed adopting, but I need hardly point out that, whether as an exleader who is repudiated by nearly all his old associates, or as a prominent public man who is, at any rate temporarily, outof active politics, bir George Grey egregiously fails to fulfil the conditions under which he would be an eligible counsellor, in accordance with' the constitutional practice I have above alluded to. In the former capacity he would' be a most unsafe guide as to the strength and opinions of the Opposition. In" the latter he has been too recently and hotly embroiled in political strife to be a trustworthy and' impartial adviser in such a crisis. Nevertheless lam satisfied you will find that it is on 'this footing that the Governor has summoned him to Wellington for privy conference on the situation. What makes the proceeding the more extraordinary is that none of the special circumstances exist which would make it proper or justifiable for his "Excellency to call in bir George Grey as a sort of amicus curve, even were ne at all a suitable adviser at such a juncture. However, Sir Arthur Gordon is expected to arrive here to-morrow, and Sir George Grey on Friday, when doubtless some further situations in this strange drama will develop themI regret to say Mr Hall continues very low, and it must be a long time before he recovers even his wonted degree of health and strength.

Auckland, April 11th. The Evening Star says :— " We believe Sir George Grey is altogether indisposed to take office unless he feels strong enough to carry the measures which he has already prepared for introduction as a private member, and it would be a fatal mistake to allow himself to be persuaded away from that decision and to be put into a false position, in which, if not dislodged by immediate defeat, he could only remain by those continual concessions of principles to expediency which are more humiliating than any mere forfeiture of office. If, however,, he should find that his Excellency has warranty for his present course of procedure, and, further, that a stable Cabinet could be formed out of the Opposition, there is very little doubt that Sir George Grey will undertake its formation." The Herald says:— "From the fact that the Governor has sent for the most bitter and. uncompromising opponent of the present Ministry it would seem that he has a desire that their policy should be reversed. It is well known that he has differed from his Ministry in regard to their Native policy. We believe that that policy has been sound and equitable, and that bo far as it has gone it has been justified by its success. We are quite sure that the Colony will not endure to see what has been done in Native affairs reversed, or the policy materially altered. We believe Sir G. Grey is likely to endeavour to form a Ministry, as he is never deficient in courage. Probably the following would be something like an approach to the personnel .—Sir George Grey, Mr Macandrew, Mr Montgomery, Mr Hutchison, Captain Morris, and Colonel Whitmore, while possibly Mr Stout would be called to the Upper House and made Attorney-general. The fact that the present is a new House, composed in considerable proportion of new members, is in Sir George Grey's favour."

(Pirn United Pbess Association.)

Wellington, April 9th. The Premier has been advised by his medical man to relinquish office, owing to his bad state o? health, and Dr Grace understands that Mr Hall agrees with his advice. The following is the letter written to Major Atkinson byDr Grace :— " April 4th, 1882.— Deir Atkinson,— l write to ask that you shall relieve Mr Hall from all responsibility in regard to public business at the earliest date possible. You" know that I have been prognosticating for more than 12 months that he must infallibly break down. Now that the crash has' come, I am anxious in the interests of Mrs Hall and the children to conserve his remaining elasticity for purposes of constitutional repair.— Yours faithfully, Morgan S. Grace." A private telegram from Auckland to-night says that Mr Whitaker has resigned this morning—it is believed through certain land transactions.

WeUjlNGton, April 10th. The Ministry have forwarded their resignations to his EXcellency and they have been accepted. As yet it is not known whom the Governor will call upon to form a new Ministry. The members of the present Ministry will hold office till their successors an appointed. Nothing further is^ikely to transpire until the arrival of his Excellency.

' Don't you think white gloves make one's hand look awfully big?' asked Angelina, holding out her gloved hands. ' Tsa t the gloves that makes them look &o large ?' askerl Alary quite carelessly. When Angelina got, alone that evening she confidentially remarked to herself that, doinebody «.j- oi.hu' v/us a groat hateful thing.— Boston Transcript,