POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8790, 28 May 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

PREMIER RETIRES AFTER PRESENT PARLIAMENT.

, HALL OR BRYCE TAKES HIS PLACE. [from our parliamentary correspondent.] Wellington, May 28. — Rumors have been current for some time of the probability of Sir Harry Atkinson's early retirement from office, but nothing definite has hitherto been published. lam now in a position to say, however, that he will deliver his Financial Statement early next session, and then resign office. His health has become so bad that he is simply unable to attend to his Ministerial work without very serious risk to himself, and his medical advisers insist that he shall leave office. The question as to who is to be his successor as Premier is not, I believe, settled yet, but it is pretty certain that it will be the Hon. Mr Bryce, or, failing him, Sir John Hall. The latter, however, is less popular, because his connection with the "Atkinson-Whitaker-Pollen-Hall party '' makes him a sort of mark for the Opposition, and would not . be over pleasing to some of the Government supporters. One important proposal likely to be made is for the appointment of a Committee to enquire into and report upon the grievances of the railway employees.