Meeting of the Atkinson Party.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 66, 6 September 1884, Page 6

Meeting of the Atkinson Party.

They Refuse Mr Stout's proposals. Tho caucus ef Major Atkinson's supporters to-day lasted two hours. Mr Hainlin was in the chair. Major Atkinson gave an account of his former proposal for coalition, offering the Stout-Vogel party four seats in the Cabinet. He said* this offer was made solely with the view of advancing business. He further stated that Mr Stout had proposed that they should find a seat for Major Atkinson in the new Ministry, but not as Premier; or if he were willing to stand aside that the three seats should be filled from among the members of his party. After considerable discussion, in which some members expressed themselves favourable to a coalition if suitable terms were submitted, while others dissented altogethe and favoured sticking together as a party, a resolution was finally carried to the effect that as very liberal terms of coalition had already been offered, and declined by the other party, the meeting was adverse to the acceptance of the proposal for coalition since submitted.

A Stout-Grey Coalition Probable. This resolution, as expected, throws upon Mr Stout the alternative of making

much larger concessions of forming a Minisout of own and the Grey parties, and he will doubtless endeavour to do the latter.

Tiio New Government Not to be Turned Out. Tho meeting was favourable to not opposing the new Ministry until they had an opportunity of bringing down their policy, so that any Government formed will probably remain in for_some time,

Otago Opinions on the Situation. The " Herald " hopes that the victorious party will use their victory with discreet moderation. "It is satisfactory to find the Libeial party showing their full power, but we do not want them to insist upon having everything their own way. A coalition is now possible so strong and enduring as to render a repetition of the events of the past few weeks impossible. Whether Major Atkinson or Mr Stout becomes Premier is not a matter of iirst-rate importance We should like to see the Major in it, though not as Treasurer; that must go to Sir Julius Vogel. Otago will have everything to look for and gain, and will not be disap- j pointed." j The " Star " is opposed to coalitions, but fears no othor course is open now. It says : —" It is quite time that the members for Port Chalmers and Akaroa and their immo diate supporters realised to the full that either of them was a sourco of weakness rather than of strength to the Government, whilst running in pairs was simply not to be tolerated. Mr Macandrew's day is past. He does not recognise the changed circumstances of the colony, whilst his yearnings after the resuscitation of the mummy of provincialism has developed in bis brain a harmless monomania which renders him incapable of taking an intelligible view of the vital questions of tho hour. The infatuation which persists in the ondeavour to elevate Mr Montgomery into the position of leader is, in tho face of experience, difficult to comprehend. He is political feobloness personified. Major Atkinson had no option but to decline to associate himself with Messrs Macandrew and Montgomery." It goes on to say :—" A stablo Government could be formed of men thoroughly in s mpathy on most vital questions, but it appears hopeless in tho absence of defined party lines. Should the crisis result in a Coalition Ministry which will include Atkinson, Vogel, and Stout, it will bo of most supreme interest to know what will be tho policy of the Ministry so constituted in regard to taxation, the tenure and disposition of land, and the prosecution of public works. It is clear they cannot each and all give oflcct to their views. The question is —who will give way ?"

WELLixfiTON, September 2. Stout encountered many difficulties in the formation of his Cabinet. A number of Canterbury members notify to Vogel that they insisted upon his holding the Premiership, and failing that, ■would hold themselves at liberty to withdraw. They also passed from coalition >\ith Atkinson. The terms submitted to Atkinson for the accomplishment of this, namely, that he should have the choice of any seat in the Ministry other than that of Premier or Treasurer, or might nominate three members of the Cabinet if he did not take office himself, were rejected. His objection was fully supported by a caucus of his party to-day. A very strong feeling also prevails over 'the rejection by Stout of Atkinson's overtures for a coalition on Friday. This led to a sharp altercation between Major Atkinson and the Hon. Mr Waterhouse to-day. The latter had expressed himself vory freely on Saturday and Sunday in condemnation of the Atkinson proposals, denouncing them as a breach of faith with his newly-appointed colleagues. This came to Major Atkinson's ears, and he immediately went to Mr Waterhouse in the lobbies, and asked him what ho meant by traducing him and endeavouring to stir up mischief. He (Major Atkinson) had endeavoured to the bestof his ability, and in the interests of the country, to bring the deadlock to an end, and if he committed an error, it was for his own supporters, and not for a member of the other branch of Legislature, who had nothing to do with it, to call him to account. He would take care to bring Mr Waterhouse's conduct under the notice of the members of the House. Hon. Mr Waterhouse defended his right to express his opinion, and both gentlemen have since been discussing the affair with other mem-

bers in the lobbies. In every way the situation is involved. Many Canterbury men would like to join Atkinson and give him 13 supporters, making his number SG, against which he would have to place a loss of perhaps four or five of his present party, with a net result of 50 or 51 on his side, but the difficulty is Vogel. They insist on his being Premier. This condition may be a preludo to defection, as the Stout people won't hear of it. The "Post" to-night further ministers to Canterbury distrust by stating l( that Sir George Grey will not support any Ministry which will not pledge itself nofc to renew the Canterbury pastoral leases, which will ere long fall in." I have Sir George's authority for stating that it is utterly untvue that this question has ever been mooted at the present time. The leases do not fall in for two or three years, and it would be altogether premature to raise the question how it may influence the action of Canterbury members. The "Post" also says: "A number of West Coast members appear determined to give their votes to force the placing of a mining representative, presumably Mr Seddon, on the Treasury benches. These facts indicate the difficulties through which Mr Stout hasbeen endeavouring to pilot his course to the formation of a Ministry having a majority. He will, however 1 , be assisted by the determination of a number of members to give any Ministry that may be formed an opportunity of declaring its policy. The movement, with this object, was initiated by Mr Moss on Saturday. He proposed toget fifteen on each side to sign a paper securing this. Mr Allright undertook to obtain the signatures on Mr Stout's side. Mr Moss has got seven signatures, and would have completed the fifteen without difficulty, but declarations at the Atkinson caucus yesterday to a similar effect rendered it unnecessary to proceed, and there is little doubt that the new Government will have a full opportunity for bringing down its policy. Brodie, the indefatigable Thames County Chairman, is here on his annual foraging expedition. It is a capital time for obtaining promises, but their fulfilment is quite a different thing. There has been an unusual amount of effigy burning and sending of rat traps and dead rodents to members, Mr Wakefield received one to-day. Mr Reese, the member for Stanmore, incensed by these little attentions, left by to-day's steamer to beard his tormentors on their own ground. He is a plain, honest man, a strong Greyite, and not easily frightened from pursuing any course he believes right. It is generally known now that Sir Julius Vogel has expressed dissent from the recent management of the party by Mr Stout, and that the first thing approaching a divided difference of opinion between them has taken place. Sir Julius Vogel was opposed to forcing the last division before arranging terms of coalition with Major Atkinson, ,

In the event of a Government being formed from the Stout- Vbgel and Grey parties, the claims of Mr Cadman as w 11 as Mr Tole to a portfolio will, it is currently stated, be considered. A curious fact illustrative of the expedition with which the Atkinson three days' Ministry was rushed through is that the Governor only signed the respective Ministerial portfolios on Saturday morning after their defeat. Mr Stout to-day offered the portfolio of Public Works to Mr Mitchelson, who, of course, instantly refused to shamolessly desert his party. .Nothing is definitely settled re the new Ministry, but it is said the negotiations are progressing satisfactority. It is probable that the House, on meeting at 2.30, will adjourn until 7.30 to-night. It had practically been agreed that a second portfolio should have been given to Auckland, and several names having been submitted, Mr Moss was accepted by both the Stout and Grey parties as being one to whom no exception could be taken. Sir Julius Vogel having yielded to the demand that he should forego the Premiership, the Canterbury members insisted on nominating Mr Kichardson as a second representative of that province. Consequently Auckland's claim to another portfolio was set aside. In a letter just received by a gentlemau in Auckland from a Northern M.H.R. now at Wellington, the following passages occur: — "The long and short of the present difficulty is that Vogel has to bo provided for. He is a white elephant in the hands of Mr Stout, who wants to got rid of him. He is helpless, and the country must keep him, as it has done for the past ten years. One of the Southern men said to me last night—' We intend to make you take him !"...... One of your city members (I need not mention names) is playing a most infamous part. On his shoulders rests .all the trouble and expense tho country has been put to for the last month. And all for what ? Ue will— ho must — have offico, and no Ministry shall have any peace until he gets it. Therefore he manages to work the g.0.m., and the result is that he plays into Vogel's hands, and injures the interests of Auckland and the North Island generally." These remarks, being extracted from a private letter and not intended for the public eye, are of value as providing a key to the actions of the Canterbury members and of tho Auckland Greyitcs.

Wellington, September 3. The Macandrow-Montgomory Protest. The hitch which arose re tho constitution, of tho Ministry late yesterday afternoon, consisted in a letter to Mr Stout, promoted by Mr Barron, and signed by several old supporters of the Macandrew-Montgomery party, protesting against the exclusion of those members from the new Cabinet. This threatened for some timo to throw the arrangements out of gear, but after these claims had been weighed it was resolved to adhere to the allotment of portfolios without them.

The New Ministry Abandon the Land Tax. The Stout- Vogel Ministry have i*esol\ r ed to abandon the land tax part of their proposals in the Governor's Speech, for this session at least.

Mr Peacock Offered a Portfolio. After Mr Mitch elson declined to accept a portfolio in the Stout- Vogel Government, it was offered to Mr Peacock, who also refused.

The Ministry to Get a Fair Trial. No opposition will be offered to the new Ministry till their financial proposals are submitted, but if these are unsatisfactory, efforts will be made to put them out.

Swearing-in the Now Ministers. Sir Julius Vogel, with Messrs Stout, Tole, Ballance, Kichardson, and Reynolds, are just proceeding to Government House to be sworn in as members of the Government.

Sir Julius as Financial Saviour. The new Ministry will meet the House at half-past two prepared to go on with the business. Sir Julius Vogel, it is said, places great reliance on being ablo to show that the financial condition of the colony is not nearly so bad as supposed, and that considerable reductions may be made in taxation. It is doubtful, however, whether the country will approve of the method by w Inch this i 3 to be accomplished.

The Difficulties of Cabinet-Making. j A sharp struggle took place over the exclusion of Sir George Whitmore from the Gcibinet. His re-instatemont was resisted mainly by Sir Julius Vogel. Sir George Whitmore, however, rather than cause a split, withdrew his claim, lion. R. Johnstonc Avas first offered a seat, but declined j then Dr.|Pollen was suggested, but was unacceptable to the Grey party ; and finally Hon. Mr Reynolds was chosen, but declined to undertake the iwork of a portfolio. The fact that only two out of tho six Ministers sworn in come from the North Island has caused discontent.