PARLIAMENT. Wellington, August 25.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 65, 30 August 1884, Page 3

PARLIAMENT . Wellington, August 25.

A Review of tho Situation. Tub "Post" of Saturday night says :— "Sir Gcorgo Grey has placed himsolf in communication with .Major Atkinson with tho view of bringing about a meeting between the various sectional leader*! to see whether a generally-acceptable Ministry could not be formed, on the understanding that tho Public Accounts Committeo should bo enlarged, and make a thoroughly exhaustive inquiry into the financial position of the colony, and that the business of the session should bo limited to dealing with a few important questions of urgent necessity, so that tho prorogation might take place at an early date. Major Atkinson is said not to have received the suggestion favourably, and so (ho matter rests. It is gonorally antici- j paled that Sir G .Grey will undertake to lorm a Ministry, if only to obtain the opportunity of placing hi-" views tully before tho public. It heically undeit 'ikes the loi m.ilion of u Minis-try, there is \ory little change of lu\ bcinu able to do more limn bung a-oialeh team together; but however composed, his Ministry Mill, if he so -wishes, be enabled to lotjiin oiliee for several weeks' by iollowing the example set by tho Atkinson party in 1 b7i>, and skilfully using tho forms of tho House to delay a hostile voto until time or circumstances may enable the minority to giow into a majoiily. Thai any Ministry loimed by Sir George Grey will command public conlidence, we do not believe ; but, \\ hatevcr the cost, it will perhaps be a« well that he should have an innings. The Darw iuiauthooryisnowbeingtostedin the 1 louse of liepicsentative-s. Theie is a process of 1 na'-uial selection' "going on, and tho ie->ull will bt tho 'survival of the fittest.' Uhim.ilely, no doubt, tho country will get a gooil Ministry, but it ax ill be too late for it to do any real w oik this se-sion. A coalition must, we think, be the result, and the best \\d) to biing this about would bo for His IO\( ellenc> , when once the ground is eleaied of Sir Geo. Grey's pietensions, to send ior some moderate man of standing, say Mr Larnach, if a member of the Lower llou.-e is selected, or some member of the Legislative Council, .such as the lion. (_ieo. McLean. Either of these gentU men could, we believe, so smooth aw.ij dilhculties and allay personal teelingbetween tho best men on each side ot the House as to place in olh'co a leally sound and stable Administration." The last suggestion is made w ith a view to \)a\ ing tho way for Sir Julius Yogel w itli a new paity.

The Governor and the Cablnet-Malter. According to the "Post" tho intcniow between His Excellency tho (iovcrnor and Mr Thomson on Friday u\ ening is leported in the lobbies to have been to the following eflect : — Hi- Excellency : "Ah, Mr Thotn-on, 1 hope )ou ha\e brought me a good Mini&tiy'/" Mr Thom-on : "No, your Excellency; I regret that 1 have not been able to fuim an economical admini-tiation, for the member .tie all too deeply imbued with a spirit ol i'\tia\ .igance, and will not listen to pi udent coun-eK M Hi-, Excellency: "Ah, \eiy -ony ; veiy Good evening, Mr 'lhom-un.' 1

The Attempt to Form an Ormoncl Ministry. Jt N that during hi.s iutei\ic\\e> with leadei.s tot the foimation of a Cabinet, Mr Thomson saw Mi Ormond and imited him to ionn a Ministry, oflering cither to accept a poitioho himself or stand out altogether. The membei for Napier o\prc.N?ed himself willing to undeitake the duty if on inquiry he fuund that his policy would command suilu'iont suppoi l to justify him in taking oihee Mi Thomson explained that he would onl\ do so on the clear understanding that the policy ot his administration -would be the iej«>eal uf the property tay and the .substitution of an income tax, -with a land tay tor local ptupo-e->. It would of couise be impossible to rejiealthc property tax this session, a-= the change would have to be made cautiously and -with due consideiation or all L .io interests inand of the cil'ect it would have ou the ciedit of the colony ; but lie it distinctly understood that it would be to cany out such a change that he would no into oilu c. Mr Ormond then consulted a numbei ot the leading members ot the House, and ultimately informed Mr Tlionwm that ho did not think a Ministry lonnul on lnu.s ho pioposod would command the supnoit iA a uorkiuo majoiity, adding that In. imi'id that syppoib would be ui\eu it he Wd.i 1 i leave the question ot t.ivilioii an o\ku <<<v toi the pie-ent. A.s Ml Tliom on would i'ot coiisenL to do thi-, he acc.oidinyly declined to pursue the matter fuithei.

Pioperty Ta>: v. Land Tax. ]Slr Ounoiul'-v inquiiics led ]iim to ihe conclusion ihut thcio are sixty out of the ninety one membei-> in the Ifouso ■who piefcr the !'iopeity Tax to the Land Tax.

Sis Gcox-go Groy's Negotiations. The course of Sir George Grey's negotiation,^ ro foimation of a Ministry has been this :— -After the failure of his interview with Major Atkinson, Sir George Gicy communicated with Messrs Stout and Macandrew. His first idea was to form a Ministry from tliat side of the House without (!ioy or Yogol, but Mr Stout has stuck by Vogel, and it was also doubted if a Ministry could command a majority without the aid of the Vogol party. This idea being given up, Sir Geoi go Grey assumed the position that as advisor of the Governor he uas leally in the same positiou as the Governor himself, and a Ministry being absolutely necessary, he must consider possible coalitions. Jt was then determined that the Vogel members should be convened together, and that the Stout, Montgomery, and Grey parties .should afterwards hold a meeting with a view ts consider the possibilities of a reconstruction of the present Ministry, Sir Geoi ge Grey standing altogether,outside of it, and merely acting as negotiator.

Chances of Success. It is recognised that if these parties could bo got to work together it would give them fifty -three votes ; but there are difficulties both from Canterbury members and some of Sir GeorgeGrey'sfollowers. The Canterbury members met to consider the matter at halfpahtten to-day, andtheothor two parties are to meet after the decision of the Canterbury causcus is known. In the event of there negotiations breaking down there is still the chance of Sir George Groy with a few wholly new men going in for the mere purpose of submitting a statement of policy.

How is the Crisis to End? The "Timed" to-day says :— " The present feeling is that Sir George Grey is engaged on a work which will end in no practical good except by clearing the way fer something else. Ho may form his Ministry and 'uo allowed to remain in office for a few days, but that will be all. For whom will His Excellency send ? We have heard itsuggested that havingexhausted the possibilities of the House of Representatives he would do wisely to turn his attention to Legislative Council in the hope that in that quarter might be iound someono able to mediate between tho contending factions in

tho other branch oi the Legislature. II seems to us that by purMiin^ such a course, His Excellency would bo just as likely to invite further complications as to clear away existing diflioultios. Whatever can be ollcctctl through the mediation of a member of tho Council can bo equally woll bi ought about without such intervention We arc convinced that- on the retirement of Sir CJeorgo (*rcy from tho attempt to form a Ministry, or on tho defeat of his Ministry, when formed, a combina tion can bo effected "which, if not entirel) satisfactory to tho country, will enable business to be proceeded, and will stavo off the necosi»ity for another dissolution.

Split in the Canterbury Camp. 1 At the meeting cf Canterbury members, this morning, Mossvs Kees and Turnbull loft before it was over, being dissatisfied with the tone of the nlccting. The general feeling of those who remained, was that members should stick to Sir .Julius Yogel and insist upon his being in any Mini&d-y,

Another Vogol Meeting. A final meeting to determine Avhethor any acccptablo recon.struction can bo agreed upon, and to which all who voted for the Ministry with .somo others aro invited, ha« been convened in aoiKMilar signed by Mr J. (J. Brown for 2.20 to-day, but, it is believed the dhhions aro so r icat that nothing at all will result In that case Sii (icorgo Urcy will consider what furLhor combinat.ions are posa'ole, and then resolve nlietlier he will smrcuder the task or form a temporary (Jovernmcnt himself for the sake ot malving a btafemunt of policy.