THE RUMORED MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2495, 5 April 1882, Page 3

THE RUMORED MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

[FBOM THE OOBBEBFONDBNT OF THE « pbbss. ,, 3 WELLINGTON, April 4

A paragraph from the Auckland ‘‘Evening Star,” which was telegraphed to Wellington, and appears in tho "Post” this calls for some remark. It runs thus—“ We are now in a position (o indicate definitely the causes of tho recent obvious movement of Ministers. The stir is due to a serious dissension in the Cabinet with reference to Native affairs, -nd the differences havo ■ gone so far that the Premier’s resignation is threatened. It is still possible, however, that a complete rupture may be avoided, and the conjecture that . the Governor was tho cause, which has been hazarded by some papers, is altogether wide of tho mark. Although there may bo a correction in this way, that the Premier is supported by hia Excellency in the view he hao taken.” I believe lam warranted in asserting that with the one single exception to which I shall further allude directly, all these allegations are utterly inaccurate. They are evidently based on the recent unfounded rumors as to Ministerial intentions regarding Native affairs in the country, cn which fallacious premises this elaborate theory has hem constructed. I think I do not go beyond tho mark in saying that there is no “ difference ” or “ dissension ” in the Cabinet in the sense above indicated, and the only particle of fact in this paragraph is that intimating tho possibility of the Premier’s retirement; but the reasons given are very wide of the mark. I have reason and believe the true state of the case to be as follows :—For a long time past it has been no secret that tho Premier’s health was in a very unsatisfactory condition, owing to the effects of the hard work and worry of the last two and a half years; and that he was very anxious to be relieved of the cares of State so soon as in tho public interests he could conveniently be spared. It has been equally notorious that his colleagues and the Ministerial party generally were strenuously opposed to hia retirement, and it was hoped that tho idea had blown over. Latterly, however, Mr Hall’s health has become much worse. On Saturday last he experienced so severe an attack of illness that it appears to havo brought matters to something like a crisis. Ho has been confined to his bod ever since Saturday afternoon under medical treatment, and his condition has been such as to demand the greatest care. I understand that he feels so unfit physically to encounter tho unavoidably severe fatigue and harrass of the Parliamentary leadership in the approaching session that he is very desirous to retire at once, but thst his colleagues are still more desirous to dissuade him from this step. I ' am glad to learn that he is much better tonight, and that hopes are entertained of his feeling himself sufficiently recovered in a day or two to accede to the earnest wish of his c that he should retain the Premiership for some time longer. It is understood tnat every effort will be used to induce him to consent to this oonree, and that his friends are sanguine of succeeding in this attempt, if only his health continues to improve. It will, of course, ho understood that this is not “ official,” but I have every reason to think it, is a strictly accurate account of the situation of certain recent occurrences which have puzzled people a little, in the absence of any feasible explanation.