WHY MINISTERS RESIGNED.

Patea Mail, 22 May 1882, Page 3

WHY MINISTERS RESIGNED.

MB iBRYOE AND THE GOVERNOR.

1 A correspondent sends to the Auckland Herald a curious explanation of the reasons which led to Mr Hall’s resignation and the resignation rof> hie colleagues. How far the story* is true, time may show. Supposing it to be true, it is a very simple affair, and; throws discredit:on no ‘individual, so !ar as we can see. The story is this s—*; ; ■ ; r . . ! The Hon. Mr- Whitaker was walking along the streets, ol- Auckland when-a ttelegraph messenger came up to him with a message! On opening it Mr Whitaker •found it tb.be frora the Hon. Mr Hally and l written in S the cypher which i Ministers /were in the habit of using u‘n munication by. wire to each < ‘other. Mr Wnitaker had nol his : code with him to read the telegram, and being desirous to catch the i otherl Ministers; at Cambridge, he forwarded , the 'telegram at once to-, them, as :he received it. As it happened, it was more : particularly meant for Mr Whitaker himself, 'with / whom the> 1 Preihiier.was in the habit of ireqnently communicating in a confidential strain.* hHoW-; , ever, this telegram was put into the hands of Ministers at Cambridge just as* they -were on the point of starting for Matavnata. The message was read by Ministers in a rough manner, by cypher, to i the effect that the writer was afraid, unless -the Governor over a new-deaf,’ they would .get into trouble. Mr Bryce

had some.misgivings, and took the message and read it carefully' by his own code, and then he found that the word which: had been road ‘.Governor■ jwas! really‘cßryce.’ , ~i , ; 1 / : :i ‘‘ The fact was, the telegramwas one specially addressed to Mr Whitaker, and meant that unless Mr Bryce turned over a new leaf he would get into trouble, not with his colleagues, but with the Governor. However, telegrams are frequently not explicit and clear, and are fertile sources of misunderstanding, especially when couched in; cypher. Mr Bryce, thinking the telegram was addressed to him* was in high dudgeon, that after having been invited to come back to the Cabinet, he should be told to turn over a; new leaf. This he was resolved not to do. The three Ministers went on to Matamata, but as we all know, Major Atkinson and Mr Bryce started from there next morning for Auckland. Mr Bryce wrote his resignation in the train,.and sent it to Mr Hall. When the 'assembled in Auck-, land they consulted on the position of : affairs, and cleared up this misunderstanding'that had arisen. In the meantime Mr Hall was confined to his bed, ami was quite unable to undertake any business, and was more than ever anxious to resign ; at once. It was then determined that consent should be given to the Premier’s resignation, B and that Mr Whitaker should be recommended to be sent for. Mr Hall: telegraphed making explanations respecting his telegram, which cleared up all misunderstanding. Mr Bryce withdrew his former resignation, and the resignations,of all the cabinet were transmitted to His Excellency.”