The Political Situation

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 39, 15 August 1893, Page 3

The Political Situation

The breach between the Premier and the member for Inangahua is now definitely established, the recent incident finally setting the seal upon it. Ah Sir Robert Stout is decidedly a man to be reckoned with, and will have a certain following, the situation is therefore particularly interesting just now. It is probable that the Opposition and Sir Robert will gravitate niore and more towards each other, and as there is little prospect of getting much f urther legislation through this session the end will be hurried to prevent further disintegration, even if the upshot should not be actual dissolution. The next Ministry is already a subject i of speculation, but as neither party is likely to return from the general elections with a working majority, apart from the malcontents and the floating pnrticles, the upshot will probably be a coalition, with Sir Robert as Premier and Captain Russell, and the Hons. J. McKenzie, Ward, and Mitchelson, with Sir Robert's personal regard for the Hon. Mr Reeves as an element in the latter's chances. The strong personality of the present Premier, with the grasp of details which his Ministerial experience has given him, would be a terrible thorn in opposition, especially when he would have such an ally as the member for Waitotara, and he would be bound to " bob up serenely " ngain some time. The one thing that is certain is that the presHcnt position will soon prove untenable—Post.