PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 386, 26 August 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[Bt Tbusgbaph.]

(From our Special Correspondent.)

WnitLJS gtow, Monday evening.

So far there is no change in tho position since Saturday. Sir G.jGrey is still Bounding those whom he thinks likely to follow him, bat has not y«t ma.de much progress. What progress, h« has actually made has not transpired the .great pro-consul being too astute to allow what would "be considered his mansion jof strength to be known. It is known that he has had interviews with Major Atkinson, Mr Stout, and Mr Wakeneld. Major Atkinson, it is understood, was not altogether averse to joining, Sir G. Grey, speaking for nimself, but felt that he couli not afford to displease his party by agreeing to a coalition without their concent and adhesion. Mr Stout made certain conditions, or, rather, one condition, which quite put all farther negotiations at an end between Sir G.Grey and himself. MrWakofield, it is understood,-^ willing to throw in his lot with Sir G. Grey, if |he can see an honorable long life for tha Ministry in prospect. Sir G. Urey has until to-morrow ia which to give his answer to his Excellency, and will of course, use every effort to ulace a Ministry on the Treassuy benches, in order that he may look into the finances fof the colony and put his policy well before the country. There will be a monster caucus this afternoon of the party following Stout, Vogel,and Grey to discuss the position with a view to considering the probability of coming to some arrangenwnt whareby party differences may be settled and a strong party formed. It is understood that Sir G. Grey is willing to place himself in the hands of both parties and accept any recommendation the caucus may offer. Later. As Anticipated, the only result of tf»«

ucus of Sir G. Grey's supporters thistafter- , n oon was of a negative cHaracjber. riSone of. fhe /leaders were present, :find ; 6nlyf about twenty Members. Of these; ■ foujrteeii , were pnp-and-qutjGreyites, the , remainder ,being members dflihe Stout- V#gel party, j There was' very littla discuwion, iyafc-- what' > there <wa«' in the; , expression of feeling [that Mr Stout and'^ir; J, "ttigel had been* tro hastily depb»ed.;;:;in>faet. : a rjssolutioa. to" iho follawing effect "was carried :— '\ThaV whilst having no desire to embarivss the action of Sir George Grey, this meeting is of opinion, that., efforts should be made in the direction of a coalition between the Grey, Stout and Vog«l parties." This, however, is believ«d to be | quite out of the question unless Sir George Grey were ; excluded from office. It that were done it is likely that both the, Grey and Yogeljsec > ions of the Liberal party would agree to follow the lead of Mr Stout, and a strong party would thus be formed. Wh«ther any attempt at coalition in this direction will be made must be left to. be. shown l»y . events, but in the best informed circles wi-'h ■•'♦ coalition is not- held to bo probable. The situation seems to have resolved itself to this — There must either be a coalition of gome some «?qrt, or anpther v dissolution. Writing on the subject, and predicting that Sir George Grey will not succeed in forming a ministry, the ' Post ' this evening says : — " With Sir George Grey's failure the parties in the House may fairly be said r to.havc been exhausted ; that is, every in'an with the slightest pretension to the position of acknowledged head of any lection will have been tried and have failed to place on the treasury benches a Ministry able to retain their seati, There is Major Atkinson, but he has admitted that he could not do so when being in actual possession he resigned. Had ke, instead of waiting^ till the, Housg met, resigned and faced ithe, position' as soon as the elections were over, and finding that the Government as constituted could »ot maintain its position, set to work to reconstruct his Ministry, he might have succeeded and so have saved what has since taken -pl*ce. As it is, however, Major Atkiaeon^ Sir Julius Yogel, Mr Montgomery, Mr Stout, Mr Macandrew, Mr Thomson, Mr Oraond. and Sir George Grey, hare all had a cliance, and the country is still without a. Government. Under the circumstances, thefe are only two courses open : coalition or dissolution. The latter would be a great : mißfortuue. , and would cause an altogether unwarrantable expense. There i« no question of policy to refer to the country. The elections; would be decided on the question of men, and probably parties would como back more confused than ever. We have now an excellent House if Oiily it could find leaders commanding its confidence. This can only ,be done by coalition." The article than goes on to urge the desirableness of a coalition between Sir J. Yogel and Major Atkinson, and eiaims that such a coalition would meet with general satisfaction... , . . . ..........