OPINIONS OF THE PRESS

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 194, 28 July 1884, Page 2

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. SOUTHERN VIEWS. Christchurch. Of the 21 Canterbury members there are three avowed Ministerialists—Messrs. Rolleston, Sutter, and Allright. Tho whole of the rest, 18 in number, are opposed to Major Atkinson. Of these, Pearson, McMillan, and O’Callaghan only turned against the Government on the grain question, and their opposition may very likely be weakened as time goes on. Messrs. Coster, Grigg, Walker, Wakefield, and Richardson are out-and-out Vogelites. The rest are pledged to give him support, but have mostly said they will do their best to keep him in bounds. Canterbury, may be said, with the three exceptions first named, to have gone for Vogel, and in that case there is implied, of course, a determination to have the West Coast Railway made at all hazards. It is fair to state that all, with scarcely any exception, arc equally in favor of tho Northern trunk—in fact, the moderation and fairness with which that work was spoken of in the speeches struck me as being a remarkable feature of the election. I can’t call to mind a single instance in which there was any violent opposition to it. Auckland will have nothing to fear if the speeches of elected members are any guide for its railway-*in fact I think tho majority of our members will give it a cordial support. I may mention that no less than eight of the Canterbury members are new men, five never having been in Parliament before. Messrs. Harper, Coster, and Grigg are undoubted acquisitions. Mr. Garrick is a lawyer of standing ; Mr Walker lias boon for years a prominent m; n in the business of hi.; district, ar.d has been Chairman of the Ashburton County Council >i;ne • Mr. J. D. Lance was prominent in the days of Provincialism, but has since been quiescent. The only doubtful man is Mr. Reese who may be called a real working man. He is perfectly innocent of the

trick of politics, but he is sensible, straightforward, and shrewd, but not by any meant! brilliant. Looking at the result of the elections it is pretty evident the Atkinson Gov.wnment i« hopelessly out of it, while Grey seems still more forward. 1 observe Mr» Holmes spoke to-day of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr, Ormond as the only possible leaders. Canterbury will not be satisfied with Mr. Ormond. We do not know him. It must be Sir Julius or nothing. Nothing is said of Mr. Montgomery. It seems hard on him that after bearing the heat and burden of the fray another should step in ar.d reap the honours, but in the fire of Vogel his light paled, and he is for the present left quite out of the reckoning, but 1 fancy he will still carry some weight with mon who are lukewarm Vogelites, and that he will still have considerable influence with his old associates who return to Wellington. That he feels the disappointment, is pretty evident, from his statement at Akaroa about retiring, if defeated. Under the circumstances, it would be a graceful thing to give him a place in the New Ministry, The separation cry raised against him, he completely exploded in his address.

Wellington, The Time* defers its analysis of the candidates, but remarks it is noticeable the supporters of the Ministry arc far stronger than any people thought they would be, and that Sir Julius Vogel is also well backed. Which of the two party leaders can best reckon on a majority at the opening of Parliament remains to be seen. The Post, on the other hand, which has been a strong advocate of Sir Julius, summarised the numbers as follows :— Ministerialists 31 Vogelites .. .. 30 Greyites 13 Doubtful .. .. .. .. ~ 5 Opposiontists (unpledged to any leader) 12 With such a House, it adds, it is quite evident the present Ministry cannot hold office, and it is plainly Major Atkinson’s duty to resign as soon as possible, and to recommend that Sir Julius Vogel be sent for. So far as I can learn, the general feeling here seems to be that Major Atkinson is not at all likely to regard the matter in the same light. It is understood (says the Post) that all parties in the new House will concur in the re-election of Sir George Maurice O’Rorke to the position of Speaker, which he has now so ably filled during several Parliaments. There will, however, be a contest for the position of Chairman of Committees, as Mr. E. Hamlin will be opposed by Mr. W. J. Steward. This is a matter for regret, for however well qualified Mr. Steward may be for the office, he is certainly not better qualified than Mr. Hamlin who, during the late Parliament, filled the office with strict impartiality and great ability under, at times, very difficult circumstances. He has displayed great tact and firmness, combined with extensive and accurate knowledge of Parliamentary law and practice—in fact he has been too firm and impartial to please Sir George Grey and one or two others, and this is understood to be the reason why Mr. Steward is to be put up to oppose him. Holding Mr. Steward as we do in the highest personal respect, we still cannot wish him success on this occasion, Dunedn. The Daily Times says that Major Atkinson can legitimately adopt either of two courses—wait till the House meets, or advise tho Governor to send for Sir Julius Vogel. In either case the result must necessarily be a Vogel Administration, and in view of the large following Sir Julius has it thinks the better course would be the latter, as it would save time and trouble. It strongly objects to Sir George Grey being sent for, on the ground that his following his smaller than ever. Sir Julius Vogel is the only man in the new House who can form a strong and capable Government, and Major Atkinson’s duty clearly is to advise His Excellency to take that course, which will secure for the colony a Government of a stable kind. Mr. Montgomery’s party is extinct, and to send either for him or for Sir George Grey would be merely to create confusion. Auckland. In discussing the subject the X. Z. Herald says The Ministerial party, numerically viewed, stands much the same as it was; the following of the old rival leaders of the Opposition, Sir George Grey and Mr. Montgomery, is respectively dimished; while a new party, with Sir Julius Vogel as its recognised leader, has arisen, possessing considerable strength, but yet numerically inferior to the Ministerial supporters. That is the actual state of the case, which the appeal to the country has resulted in. And yet, it is in the face of facts such as have thus been disclosed that certain men claiming to be possessed of all wisdom clamorously call on Ministers to resign I As against this unprecedented demand, we have no hesitation in saying that, in view of all the eircumstauces, the Ministry would be woefully lacking in self-respect and, what is greatly worse, would lamentably fail in the duty they owe to the country, were they to resign before Parliament assembles. Supposing they were disposed to resign, how could they in the existing state of parties, accept the responsibility, of advising His Excellency ? Even if they thought they could not secure the confidenoe|ofjtheJHouse, it is not for them to say at present who is likely to command it. This is a question which the House itself must settle. If the various sections of the Opposition should be of the opinion that they can agree on a Ministry that will command the confidence of the House better than the present holders of office, let them nominate their leader, and put the question to the test in the usual eon* stitutional way.