THE RUMOURED DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 17

THE RUMOURED DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET.

(Fkom Ouh Own Cobrespondent.) Wellington, December 7.

Persistent rumours, to which an evening paper give credence, are current of dissensions within and of the probable disruption of the Cabinet. The old sbory of the strained relations said to have arisen on the death cf Mr Ballance between the Premier and certain of his colleagues as to the leadership has been revived to give effect to these forebodings of impending change, and ib is contended bhat those who stood nearesb bo the late Premier have never wholly concurred in what was said to be a disregard of his last wishes. Upon this poinb I am nob prepared to express an opinion, but that any change in the Cabinet is impending I do not believe. That there may be a party move affecting the leadership btfore the meeting of Parliament is anobher matter, for I know that certain Liberals gave their support to Mr Seddon as Premier with the reservation that they should have a free hand after the general elections. A very great deal will depend upon the attitude of the Labour members and their allegiance to the Ministry as now constituted, which, I have reason to believe, '13 a very uncertain quanlity. The situation political is biimful of possibilities, bub bo my mind the posibion to-day does 1 ob lend itself to the likelihood of any swift-coming change. Bat when il does come, I thiak tho unexpected will happen — that is bo say, an unlooked for solution of the real question • Uuder which king ? " Reverting to the growing belief of Cabinet dissension, I hive reason to believe that the only cause of present difference among Ministers arises cub of the proposed visib of Sir P. Buckley to the old country. He will naturally desire to go as a member of the new Cabinet representative of tho triumph of the democracy. A section of the Jo sal press vigorously protest against hiareten-

tion of office while absent in Europe on private affairs. Some of his colleagues, I understand, hold this view, and this )3 the only probable Cabinet difference of the day.