THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 413, 2 April 1879, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The following letter over the signa" ture of “ Observer” appears in a recent issue of the New Zealand Times'. —“As it is now being generally accepted by persons of every' shade of political

opinion that the present Ministers existence cannot extend beyond the first few days of next session, curiosity and speculation are being excited as to what will then take place* It is being very commonly supposed that there will be a dissolution of the House. As against this it is well known that the new Governor is averse to dissolutions, except some good and substantial reasons catl be given for such a course. And no reason can he given by the present Ministry beyond the fact that, their attempt at legislation Ims been a failure, and their administration the most impotent and corrupt ever known in this country. Should they be attacked oil the address, as no doubt they will be, with a direct no-confidence motion, the bill of indictment will be such that nothing can save them, while they will have nothing to go to the country on but broken pledges and unfulfilled promises, which I fear would be a bad passport to public confidence* and such a plea as the Governor might well refuse to grant a dissolution on. After death—what then? Who is to take their place? That’s the question • their being', as is generally supposed, no organised Opposition. That supposition is only partly true, as will be seen on w* meeting of the House. As to the coming men, if you are anxious to know, I will give you some idea. Leader and Premier, Hon. J. Whitaker, notwithstanding his having intimated that he does not intend taking ollice * Colonial Secretary,- Hon. John Hall, and leafin' of the Legislative Council; Mr Stephens of Christchurch, Minister for Public Works; F. D. Fenton, Chief Judge Native Lands Court. Native Minister, to be called to the Council, or what is more probable, will find a seat in the House of Representatives} Major Atkinson, Treasurer} George McLean, Commissioner of Customs. This leaves open the offices of Postmaster-General and Minister of Lands, one of which would probably have been awarded to Mr Curtis,- of Nelson, had he not sold his own party in 1877, and sold himself to the present Government in 1878. His repentance, though it be with tears,cannot bo accepted. The rank and file of the House who will support the Government named will set their face dead against serving under any renegade. Hence, the portfolio of PostmasterGeneral will fall to one or other of such men as Walter Johnston, Captain Kenny, Wooleock Seymour, Fitzroy, or Wason. Rollcston, who would be a weakness to any Ministry, will make a good Speaker, and as Fitzherbort has made up his mind, if possible, to obtain the Speaker’s chair in the Upper House, there will be an opening for Rolleston, This sketch is worthy of the consideration of the Press and people of this country, as it gives a pretty fair outline of the probable future.