DIVISION IN THE CABINET.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1673, 1 July 1879, Page 3

DIVISION IN THE CABINET.

RESIGNATION OF MR BALLANCE. fßr Teibobaph.] WELLINGTON, June 30. Mr Ballance’a resignation is accepted. It is reported that Messrs Macandrew, Sheehan, and Fisher will resign. Referring to Mr Ballanco’s resignation, the ■ “ Chronicle” gives the following as the plain, ■ivornished tale of the facts :—“ In prepar- ' the estimates the Treasurer removed the jry of Mr Fox from the Treasury Departont, because Mr Fox did not work especially ior that department. Mr Fox is Secretary to :he Cabinet ae a whole, and also Secretary to ihe Premier. The Treasurer, in drawing up his estimates, charged the salary of Mr Fox tinder its proper head. When tho estimates were forwarded to tho Premier for revision, he sent for the Colonial Treasurer and asked him in a very rude way why the alteration had been made. Mr Ballance then told him he made the alteration because he thought that every item should bo charged to its proper account. Tho Premier said that Mr Ballance persistently insulted him, that he made him “ blush,” and went on to indulge in very opprobrious language to the Colonial Treasurer, Mr Ballance calmly replied that he had never intentionally insulted the Premier, that ho had drawn up the estimates in the way that he thought best, but that he was perfectly willing to make any alterations tho Premier wished, as that was only the rough draft of tho estimates, and it had yet to be revised in tho Cabinet. The Premier had now completely lost his eelf-oontrol, and he continued to rave at the Colonial Treasurer .in the most offensive manner. Mr Ballance, being then put on his moltlo, told the Premier that the matter was purely a departmental one, not a question of policy, and that he being responsible for his own department claimed the right to manage all purely departmental matters in his own way. The Premier said he could not hear of such a thing. Ho must have absolute control of every item in all the departments, and that ho wanted tho Treasury “for bttnself.” Mr Ballance said if that were so, he must resign—that was the only solution of the difficulty. Sir George Grey said, Do' ; so, and I’ll resign too. We must both resign.” Mr Ballance said, “Be it so,” arid turned to leave the room. Just as he wa* getting near the door, Sir George Grey shouted out in tho most offensive tone—“Leave'the room, sir.” Hearing himself addressed as if he were the mere lacquey of the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer turned back, and looking firmly at Sir George, said—" I will not leave tho room till it pleases me." The Premier pointing to the door, again shrieked—“ Leave the room, sir.” Mr Ballance still refusing to go, the Premier shouted out—“ Then I will send for a messenger and have you turned out.” Ido not care if you send for twenty messengers,” replied the Colonial Treasurer, looking calmly at the enraged Premier. Sir George then seized his hat and rashed out of the room. The messenger did actually come to eject the Colonial Treasurer, but was met at tho door by Mr Sheehan, who ordered him off. Two minutes later Sir George sent his private secretary to see if Mr Ballance had vacated the chamber. Mr Ballance was still there, however, talking over the strange conduct of the Premier with the Native Minister, who had been present the whole time. Half-an-hour before he was sent for by Sir Geo. Grey, ho received a telegram from Colonel "Whitmore, who was in Auckland, stating that one of the Auckland papers had just published an “ extra ” containing sensational nows about a disruption of tho [Cabinet. Mr Ballance telegraphed back to Colonel Whitmore, telling him to give an unqualified denial, as there had been no disagreement in the Cabinet. This ' shows that Sir G. Grey’s insulting conduct to Mr Ballance was pre-arranged, and that ho had given intimation of what was “going” to happen. Sir George Grey has, moreover, been in the habit of receiving anonymous letters from all parts of the colony complaining of the action of his colleagues. This is wholly unconstitutional and unprecedented. We understand the Minister for Public Works and the Native Minister have both threatened to resign. Mr Ballance having relieved himself of his duties as member of Cabinet, will at once proceed to Wanganui to attend to his private business till a day or two before the opening of Parliament.”

The “Post,” referring to the same matter. Bays: —“Ibis said that no Cabinet meetings properly so called have been hold for many months, that Ministers have met nominally in Cabinet, not to discuss what should bo dono in reference to various public questions, but to receive from the lips of Sir George Grey such, information as he might vouchsafe to furnish, of what he had either done or decided to do, and latterly matters have gone from bod to worse in the Ministerial relations, the Premier, it is alleged, treating certain of his colleagues with discourtesy so marked as to make it almost impossible for them, with any regard for their own self-respect, to maintain personal communication with him. The imprfiiion thus has gained ground daily that Sir George Grey’s object was to get rid of his present associates in tho Government with the view of surrounding himself with colleagues of a disposition more congenial to his natural lova of supreme power. It is asserted that since Mr Stout’s resignation Sir George Grey has taken several occasions to offer Mr Ballaneo personal slizhts of a marked nature in regard to numerous points of petty detail coming within tho special department of the Colonial Treasurer;” In tho courso of the afternoon Mr Ballanoe received a letter from tho Premier, the purport being that in view of tho early session of Parliament and a Native war being imminent, also pending the settlement of numerous important questions, tho Premier trusted Mr Ballanoe might reconsider his determination. Mr Ballance replied that he was unable to alter his determination, because he did not consider his retention of cilice would bo any public advantage.