Re-making the Ministry.

Patea Mail, 24 July 1882, Page 2

Re-making the Ministry.

Ministers had a close division last week, beating the Opposition by only four votes. The division was on the question of adjourning the second reading of a bill. The Opposition wanted time to whip up their men, and they contrived to keep the talk going till the city had been scoured for missing members, which being done by midnight, the division was taken, with a result so close as to greatly encourage the fighting proclivities of Opposition party-men. Now they talk of trying their luck again this week. It is said that two members who voted with Ministers will side with the Opposition next time, and this change of sides would just produce a tie. But old politicians know that when it is a question of turning out a Ministry, it is also a question as to who shall take their places. Many independent members would vote with Ministers merely to keep out a party headed by Sir George Grey. It is much easier to force on a Ministerial crisis at present than it is to put the Opposition into power. Probably some friends of Ministers would not bo sorry to see the Ministry defeated, if the effect were to compel its reconstruction under a Premier. sitting in the Lower House. We believe this is the real drift of the present party squabbling. The Lower House is determined, in a quiet way, to have the head of the Government sitting in that chamber. It need not be a surprise if this charge is forced by an adverse division on some minor question, A formal motion to upset the Government has no chance, so far as we can see, of being carried at present ; but a motion opposing the Government on some detail of procedure would catch all those independents who wish to see the Government reconstructed in accordance with the .present temper of the Lower House. That temper is hot favorable to Mr Whitaker continuing in the Upper House as Premier. General inclination is towards Major Atkinson as Premier. He is recognised as the strongest working member of the Cabinet; and next to him in influence are Mr Bryce and Mr Rolleston. It will be surprising if this session gets over without a reconstruction of the Ministry. A change of sides is palpably out of the question at present.