Parliamentary Points.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 629, 17 January 1891, Page 12

Parliamentary Points.

(By Ouk Political Observes.)

The Continuous Dodge— Opposition in Majority— Mitchelson Criticjsed— Hee's's Cliances — Members to foe Nobbled— Abla • Oppositionists — How tlie Auckland Men will Act. Wellington, 12th January, 1891. The Ministerial policy when Parliament meets is understood, to be already deoided upon. The Cabinet will be* reconstructed/ with some safe.' as-you-were ' man ia the lead— say Sir John Bryeeor Sir John Hall, and a ruck of unknown mediocrities, who will be too "weak to assert themselves. This is the move that has proved so -successful with the Continuous Government upon nearly every occasion on which it has been tried. The party continues in power, but appoints new figureheads, and under the pretence of change the same old policy is Btill pursued. The Opposition have a clear majority— there is no doubt about this ; but many of them ' ait on the rail, 1 and it is generally thought they have their price. The Auckland members are much more distrusted for this reason than others, and among the general public of this city they are looked upon with a species of scornful contempt— a kind of ' did-you-ever-know-anything-good-to come-out-of-Auckland ' feeling. ' For instance, Mr Mitchelson, it is ' considered, was selected by the astut e Atkinson as a safe foil, on account of his mediocre talents, and because of his connection with the Bank. There is very litfele danger of him attempting to throw over the traces, as Fisher did. Circumstances necessitated him to have a pliant nature, and he therefore obeys the whip and rein with alacrity, and pulls in strict accordance with the dictates of his driver. The Evening Post sums him up as follows :— ' Mr Mitchelson's position excites the same feelings as a fly in amber : The thing itself is neither rich nor rare ; The wonder is how the devil it got there. ] He is .... as little fitted to shine in political life as be is to prove a sporting success. Both in politics and on the turf he has done perhaps even better than was to be expected from his gifts and training ; but when he retires he will certainly not be missed.' As Native Minister he has proved his incompetence in more than one memorable fiasco, from the Te Kooti foolishness to the Kerei Kaihau farce. With the exception of Mr Bees, Auokland can boast of no man of pre-eminent ability who is considered (in other parts of the colony) as having made his mark. Mr Bees is one of the ablest debaters in the present Parliament ; and what is of immense advantage, he has the inner circle politics of the colony at his finger ends. As a fighting man he almost ranks with Stout, and it would surprise no one here to see him included as Auckland's representative in any Liberal administration that may be formed. It is noteworthy that in the last number of the Review of Reviews Mr Stead gives to Mr Bees the credit of inspiring General Booth's new book, ' Darkest England and the Way Out.' The chances of Atkinson 'nobbling' some of the Auckland members is freely being discussed and bets are taken as to whether the operation will be as successful to-day as it was ten years ago, when the four Auckland ' rats ' sold Grey. The technical definition of nobbling means to discover what a member wants, and then for the party in power to offer it to him in return for his unswerving support. It is not a sine qua -non that he is to receive hard cash— that is too oldfashioned; but there are other ways equally as effective. If Atkinson is offered the Agent- Generalship he will leave the way open for the Opposition to attain power ; but the Wanganui Herald (Ballance's paper) has ' sat ' upon this idea— stating that the Agent- General's department requires retrenching, and if a successor is to be appointed to Sir Dillion Bell the chosen one is more likely to be Stout than Atkinson. There are many men of undoubted ability in the ranks of the Opposition, well fit to form a strong Cabinet. There is Waitotara Hutchison, of the Bank libel case, a man who has given the Government and their finaDoial chief the heaviest knock-down blow they have ever received. He is undoubtedly a man of great ability and cool determination. Like Stoui;. and <-rey, he is cordially detested by the Bank Bing, which proves the sterling stuff of which he is made. Mr Hogg, an able writer and trenchant debater from the Wairarapa, is also one who will make himself felt in more ways than one. Geo. Fißher and Macdonald of Wellington are regular warriors, who will make things warm for the Atkinßonians. Macdonald is expected to do much by the Wellingtonianß, and as a public speaker he is not to be surpassed in the House. There are Hutchison and Earnshaw, of Dunedic The latter a Labour representative pure and simple, but possessing the stuff of which heroes are made. Another is W. P. Beeveß of the Canterbury Times. >Heipayoung New Zealander of more than average ability, a first-class debater, a ready writer, and a thorough Democrat. With the exception of Sir Geo. Grey, he is unsurpassed in his grasp of Boeial and economic questions, and during the late Parliament he won renown in more than one brilliant engagement. Atkinson reckons upon the support of Thompson, Hamlin, Allen, Lawry, Buckland and Goldie, all of whom have, it is understood, signified their allegiance ' when the time comes. 1 Cadman, Kelly, Bees, Snera and Houston are considered safe and sincere Liberals, who will stand by. Ballance in inaugurating reform that means something more than talk.

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