A GREY-ATKINSON COALITION. Important Negotiations.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 63, 16 August 1884, Page 6

A GREY-ATKINSON COALITION. Important Negotiations.

I learn on tho best authority that preliminary overtures havo taken place for a personal meeting between Sir Goo. Grey and Major Atkinson to oonsidor measures of joint action.

An Otago View of the Crisis. DUNKDIV, AllgUSt 11. Tin: "Star" thinks that Sir Julius Vogol, if joined by Messrs Stout, Ormond, Ballance, and Montgomery or Richardson, and Macandrow, must command a strong following. A sop may certainly bo given to Auckland in tho shape of an appointment to tho Executive Council without ofh'co ; but such an arrangement will not satisfy the political hor.se-leeches of that exacting di->hict. Tho idea immediately aftor the election was that a Vogel Ministry should be formed, in which Sir Geo. Grey should hold tho Premiership without portfolio, and simply as an honorary ofiico. It is an open secret that negotiations to that eflect were oponcd with Sir George, but up to tho meeting of Parliament he had certainly not expressed his definite intention. It would appear to be nothing else than a wild dream to conceive Fir Ceo. Grey holding such a position as was proposed — a mere dummy piemier, with Sn Julius duccting the policy and administration of Government. This ib not among tho possibilities. Once Premier, lie would either lule or break up the Ministry. Outside Sir George himselt, the party has no very capablo or oven promising man. Among tho Auckland team. Mr Moss is poihaps tho best, but his quasi support of tho Atkinson Government last .session will hardly bo condoned. Mr Dargaville is able enough, but has hardly established a Parliamentary character that would justify his being called to the Cabinet. His disgraceful calumnies on Major Atkinson damaged him irretrievably, and altogether it would be a very risky venture in Sir Julius to offer him a portfolio. Tho least objectionable would be Mr Tole, but it is questionable whether ho carriot> enough mettle. The " Otago Daily Times " Speaks.

Tho "Times," di c cussing tho situation, says : There is no lack of ability from which to form a M inistry,but tho difficulty will be"to bind tho conflicting elements of tho position. The names of Stout, Ballanco, Macandrow, Montgomery, Richardson, Larnach, and Wakefiold all suggest themselves, whilst an Auckland member must be found, and a representative provided for tho Upper Houso. This means ten candidates for seven seats, and Sir Geo. Groy out of the question. In such a situation it is evident that Sir Julius Vogel's only hope is to form his Cabinet on tho widest possible area, making room for rcpres.entativoi» of each section of the House, and yet leaving an opening for the less rabid of the Ministerialists to join his ranks. We trust that the Opposition will know how to bury their intestine quarrels.. If they do not, it is evident there is no alternative but a return of Major Atkinson to power with a reconstructed Ministry and a continuation of that regime of which Otago ha« recently so unmistakably expressed its distrust and dislike. Eacli district of the country looks alike to Sir Julius Vogel to give fail play in his Cabinet to every section, and to tho Opposition to sink its differences, and give Sir Julius a fair chanco of succeeding.

Wellington, August 12. The Cabinot-Malting Mess. Sir Julius Voukl was engaged all yesterday afternoon endeavouring to smooth the milled feelings of his Canterbury supporters. Mr Wakofield was summoned for an interview, and a meeting of Vogel's personal supporters is convened for 11 o'clock to-day. Mr Richardson, it is understood, is reconciled to his omission from tho Cabinet ; part of tho programme being a non-political Railway Board, for which two or three handsomely-paid commissioners will be required.

West Coast Members. Mr Seddon is still very disaffected in his allegiance to Sir George Grey, but will probably come round ; and ho cannot in any case carry the other West Coast members with him.

Which Side is the Stronger? It is a curious fact that each party in pricking off a card claims about 52, and gives the other side 42. I incline to think, however, that the Atkinson-Grey count is most reliable. All their followers have been working well together, while the new party depend upon defections.

Mr Macandrew's Illness. A medical examination of Mr Macandrew shows no organic disease of the heart — only a slight irregularity from over-oxortion, and ho is now nearly well again.

Mr Hamlin and the Vogel Party. Mr Hamlin assures mo there is no truth in the report about any intention on his i part to join the Vogel combination. He says it is a canard pure and simple.

A Thunderbolt to Canterbury. Tho ofFer of a portfolio to Sir Geo. Grey yesterday fell like a thunderbolt upon the many Canterbury supporters of Sir Julius Vogel. Some of them flatly refused to credit it until convinced by the acknowledgments of the members on thier own side who had conducted the negotiations. The object of Messrs Macandrew and Montgomery in holding back from acceptance of portfolios has evidently been to see what accessions of strength could be obtained by lobbying among the supporters of Groy and Atkinson. Mr Macandrew, however, was too ill to engage in this, and it has been carried on mainly by Messrs Montgomery, Barron, and J. C. Brown.

Mr Stout's Attitude. Mr Stout, before his departure for the South yesterday, is understood to have statod that he would agree to anything the

majority of thoso remaining behind might decide.

Placing tho Members of the Now Cabinot.

Tho "Post," last night, says Mr Montgomery will tako the portfolio of Public Works, and Mr Macandrow that of Colonial Secretary. The same paper again strongly advocates Mr Hamlin as the Auckland reprosentativo in tho Cabinot, and also mentions Mr Tole as a euitablo man. Of course there is no chanco of getting the latter, and the former equally repudiates tho idea. The Strength of Parties.

Careful pricking of cards shows at least 52 supporters of a Grey- Atkinson combination, against 43 tor the Vogel-Stout party. Otago Discontent with the Proposed Cabinet.

The "Otago Daily Times" would not liko to sco a Government formed of men with such stiong provincial views as Messrs Stout, Macandrow, and Montgomery, and it therefore recognises that tho North Island will have very good rea&on to complain of such a Government. It says; "The Radical element has obviously far more than its fair share of influence, and, though the policy may bo moderate, we confess the names mentioned allord anything but tho assurance of moderation. With all duo respect | to Mr Stout, his is not a name which inspires confidence in the position of Premier, nor does tho predominating inlluence oi Messrs Montgomery and Macandrow diminish our fears. \\ r e regret to hear itis the voices of the Otago members that put Mr Stout in a position he has not sought. Sir Julius Vogel, of course, knows his own business best, but we cannot help thinking if ho had been ablo to go about the lobbies himself, and were better acquainted with the feelings oi the 1 Louse and the colony, he would not have estimated the influonco of Messrs Montgomery and Macandrow so highly, and delivered himself so completely into their hands ; for this is what the propo&ed Alinistry meanb. A Ministry could bofoimed which could givo satisfaction to the iloiiho without including either, if Sir Julius Vogel ventured the attempt; for though hu could not meet the Hou&e with an assured majority, we are confident a MinLstiy which was personally strong would attuict support from many who w ere elected as adherents of Major Atkinson, It is, fortunately, very doubtful it the Canteibury follow ei.s of Sir Julius Vogel will accept the choice he has made, and though we should regret to see Sir Julius have to givo up the attempt to ionn a Government, we belie\e that this would bepreierable to tho formation ot .such a Government. Sir Juliua himself is certainly acting unselfishly in lCaigning the Premiership at tho bidding of a section of his paity : but w hat yhall we say of the givulol -Mc&sisAlontgomery andMacandrew and the potty vanity which actuates them? They -seem not to mind what policy the Government pursues so long as their lights are not eclipsed by a brighter one. Even if the proposed Cabinet fulls to the ground, their conduct on this occasion will not soon be forgotten."

Tho " Evoning Herald " Reviews the Position. Tho "Herald " says :— " Sir Julius Vogel has probably the largest following, but it is still doubtful whether even in the event of hi 3 succeeding in getting a Ministry together from tho four winds of heaven, he would be able to make a hopeful start, or whether tho hostile combination, which is simply a matter of course, would be too powerful for him. It is quite plain that he is not so omnipotent as some of his most fervent supporters expected. He is, nevertheless, to all appearance the only man in the House who could form a Government out of its heterogeneous elements. His chief danger lies in the officiousness and strong provincial tendencies of some of his now iriends. If he delivers him.solf to a clique— as there seems to be some fear of his doing — he is lost. Unless he can form a fairly representative and truly colonial Government, he may just as well give up the attempt ; for no other Government could long weather the storm which would bo &rro to be raised by provincial jealousy. Tho outlook, it must be confessed, is not very bright ; but there is happily something to hop© for in tho character of the House, which is on all hands admitted to be greatly superior to its predecessor. While, therefore, we may expect a certain degreo of failure at the outset, there is little doubt that a majority of the members w ill, ere long, find themselves united in support of one or other of the candidates for tho Premiership.

The Auckland Minister. | No Auckland member except Sir George Grey has yet been formally approached for the Northern portfolio, though "feelers" have been put out to several. There seems a disposition to dangle it about like a bunch of carrots as a bait for votes. Captain Morris is freely mentioned as probable, but I iind that he has not been approached on the subject, being selected mainly in opposition to Mr Bryco's native policy. He seems not unlikely to work with tho new Government if there is any chance of stability.

No Progress Made. At tho meeting of Canterbury members held to-day at Sir Julius Vogel's House, only Messrs Wakefield, Harper, and Grigg were present. They stated their objection to Mr Stout as Premier, with Messrs Macandrow and Montgomery in the Cabinet. A long conversation took place, in the course of which it was said the objection would be considerably neutralised if Sir Julius Vogel were given the Premiership or one of the members named were withdrawn. They objected to Mr Montgomery more than to Mr Macandrew. Sir Julius Voerel said he believed tho arrangement made was the only possible way of gaining a majority in tho House. The deputation dissented from this, and believed if Sir Julius Vogel formed a Cabinet, Avith new men, it would command a substantial following. No conclusion was come to, the meeting finally adjourning till two, in order that Messrs Walker, Lance, and other Canterbury members may attend. Meanwhile, tho entire business of Cabinetmaking is suspended.

Canterbury Pressure on Members. Telegrams from influential Chriatchurch people urge the Canterbury members to give Sir Julius Vogel a chance of forming a Government under any circumstances. It is expected they will withdraw the objection to the proposed Stout Government,