THE POLITICAL INTRIGUES LAST SESSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4302, 30 May 1885, Page 2

THE POLITICAL INTRIGUES LAST SESSION.

-♦ OFFER TO SIR G. GREY. (N.Z. Herald.) The story of the political intrigues of last session, and the seizing of power by the Stout- Vogel combination, has never been publicly told, but it is an open secret that the intrigues were of a very discreditable nature in many ways, and through them and the return to power of Sir Julius Yogel, events rapidly led to a revival of the old gambling policy, and a renowal of the political bribery practised so successfully in former years. From two sources of a reliable nature we have gathered a few facts about these intrigues, the publication of which may be useful and profitable to the public at the present moment, and they may possibly cause some of the Auckland members of the Assembly to pause and ask themselves where the gambling is to lead them, and how far they will lend themselves to a policy destined in the near future to bring great disaster to New Zealand. The story told to us confirms at the outset the statements made the other night by Sir George Grey. It seems that immediately before the meeting of the House last year, the Stout- Vogel combination had been moving in the South to seize the reins of office. But they did not know what to do with Sir George Grey. He gave them considerable uneasiness of mind, because it was felt that he would be no party to their jobs, or their manoeuvures to outflank him. Nr J. C. Brown, the whip of the party, sent a telegram to Sir George Grey, asking him to go to Wellington a few days before the meeting of the House, for consultation it was presumed, as it was seen that Major Atkinson was in a minority. Accordingly Sir George \yent to. VVellington several days before the opening, but nobody of importance arrived until the day before thu House met. The fact ia Cabinetmaking was going on in the South. Then J Mr Stout and one or two others, who had just arrived, met in the whip's room in the Parliament Buildings We have no | desire to misrepresent matters, but what took plaoe, it is believed, is this : Mr Stout told Sir George Grey that ho (Sir George) was very unpopular with some of the members, but considering the position he occupied in the House, he should have the right of nominating two members to the Cabinet. Sir George asked who was to be Premier, and what the Ministry really was to be. Mr Stout 1 replied that it had been considered advisable that he should be Premier and Sir Julius Yogel would be Treasurer. Sir George replied that he did not think that any knot of men had a right without first having had a meeting, to seize power and arrange offices in that manner, as lb was wrong in itself, and he did not see why he should have been sent for, for the purpose of consultation. He promptly declined to nominate anyone, or to have anything to d > with the formation of the Ministry, as he did not approve of it. He took his hat and left the room. This rather startled some of the members of the party, who desired the presence of Sir Julius Yogel in the Cabinet, and the next morning a feuutatim waited on Sir George at his hotel. The dpu cation consisted of Mr Stout, Mr Montgomery, Mr Barron, and another member. They said they had come with an offer of a portfolio to Sir George, who very courteously replied that he would not enter any Ministry where office had been taken in that mannep. The Government however, formed, but it was at once resolved to throw then; out of office, and in this Sir George Grey assisted. Mr J. W. Tnompson, the mem? tier for Clutha, who moved the adverse vote, was then sent for and tried to form a Ministry. He went to Sir George Grey, who advised him to try and form a younw New Zealand party from all sides of the House, including Mr Wakefield,

Mr HursthoU3>, and soma mother young men who had shown considerable talent, although many of them wjre opposud to Sir George Grey personally. Mr Tnoinson, however, did not succeed in forming a Ministry. Sir George wa3 then sent for by the Governor, but failed to form a Government. An interview then took place between Sir George and Major Atkinson, the latterassuring Sir George that ho could get a majority in the House. Then Sir George, believing that the Governor had a right to the assistance of the person with a majority at his back, recommended that Major Atkinson be sent for, which, was done, the Governor intending to take this step if Sir George failed. Major Atkinson, however, miscalculated his strength, and was soon out of office, but before leaving, recommended the Governor to try Sir Julius Yogel, and the present Ministry was fixed up. It seems that Major Atkinson, when trying to form his Ministry, made overtures to Mr Tole to join him. Mr Tole, of course, let Sir George Grey know this fact, and it did not help Major Atkinson by any means. It would seem that Sir Julius "Yogel -•• was all through the negotiations pulling the strings, and certain other members were being made to dance^^s puppets at his will. At one time an effort was made to get Sir George prey out of the way, or to silence him to some extent, by the offer of a Commissionership in. the King Country, similar to that held by Sir William Fox on the West Coast, The offer was put to Sir George Grey in a delicate fashion by Mr Stout, who said the Ministry would be very glad of , hia services in a great work in another direction. They proposed to appoint a Commission to make arrangements with the natives about the lands in the King Country. The Commission was to consist of three gentlemen, nominated, of course, by the Ministry. Sir George was actually to be Chairman, but the decision* of a majority was to be binding, so that he might be outvoted on every point. In a very simple and dignified manner Sir George declined the 'offer. The public will probably wonder why such an offer was ever made to a man who has been High Commissioner of South Africa and Governor of this and other colonies. Sir George Grey may have his price, as it is believed every man has, but Sir Julius Yogel evidently does not understand him in the least by offering baits of this description. From these facts it will be see n that Sir George kept himself a tolerably free lance, and towards the end of the Bession he strongly opposed the Government. He did so solely, we believe, in consequence of the proposals with reference to certain jobs and railways and schemes in the • the South, 'in one at least of which both the Premier and Treasurer are personally concerned — the former as solicitor to the • company and the latter as having been Chairman for years at a high salary.