LATEST PARLIAMENTARY. [FROM THE " STAR" SPECIAL REPORTER.] THE MOTION OF WANT-OFCONFIDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 116, 22 August 1885, Page 4

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY. [FROM THE " STAR" SPECIAL REPORTER.] THE MOTION OF WANT-OF-CONFIDENCE.

A SUDDEN COLLAPSE. Wellington, August 17. j As you might judge from the nature of my brief telegrams yesterday, a vast change has come over the spirit of the dream since Saturday. At the end of last week the Opposition had apparently evei'ything arranged for a vote of want-of-confidence, and majority cardß were being triumphantly shown round the lobbies, while sanguine people had actually embarked in the business of Cabinet- making for the new administration. Yesterday the attitude of ruthless determination borne by the Opposition had disappeared to the ordinary observer. The whole scheme of attack'on the Government had collapsed for want of a person to move the adverse motion. Of course, as I have alrerdy explained to you, the raison d'etre tor the whole movement) was a desire on the part of a majority of memberd to get rid of Sir Julius Vogel before the recess, and it was therefore not unnatural that Oppositionists should be found with stories in their mouths to the effect that the Government had removed the offensive factor in their constitution by promising to throAv their Jonah overboard, and many honourable members, and men who are honourable in the primary meaning of that word, absolutely believed this. One of the oldest members of the Hotteo, and a staunch supportor of the Atkinson party,in sober earnest sent mo the following letter last evening:- "At an informal meeting of tho Opposition held just now it was announced that Sir Julius Vogel has consented to resign in order to relievo his colleagues of the embarrassments which surround them, It is proposed, therefore, to await accurate information upon this point before taking formal action in tho House in the direction of giving notice of a want ofconfidonce motion." Here, 1 thought, is something tangiblo to go upon. It certainly had a sovpeon of probability about it, and coupled with tho fact that I had authentic information that Sir Dillon Bell's resignation was either already in tho hands of the Government, or expected out by the forthcoming mail, it was quito natural to suppose that Sir Julius should, for a second timo in his life, be willing to exchange the narrow sphere of colonial politics for the direct and indirect emoluments appertaining to the Agent-Generalship. As it was not likely I would bo able to get at the bottom of tho Agent-Generalship story, I let it slide, and contented myself with inquiring from Mr Stout if there was any truth in the industriously circulated stories of Sir Julius Vogel'a retirement, and received a most unequivocal and unqualified denial. Your readers will doubtless remember that some days ago 1 gave currency to a report from a Government source that the Opposition were delaying the want-of-confidence motion in tho hope that a practicable breach would be found in the Ministerial ramparts when the Public Works Statement was delivered. This, it would appear, had moro truth in it than I was prepared to boliove at the time I heard it. Of course, the fact that Messrs Ormond and Montgomery had refused to take the initiative is the main cause of the postponemont or abandonment of the hostile intention, but it transpired during last night's debate from the chaff that passed between Major Atkinson and Mr llichardeon over the question as to when tho Publio Works Statement was coming down, that while the Opposition were waiting for the Statement, the Go\ernmenfc, quite as crafty, would not bring it down till they could see a chance of doing so with a majority of the House prepared to vote for them. In a word, they were not going to play the Opposition game. In so well concealing their hand, Ministers have shown far greater tactical skill than tho Opposition gave them credit for. The front they showed last night in proceeding with the Estimates may be regarded as a bold invitation of the " tread on the tail of my coat" variety, and is another evidence that they now have no foar ot the Opposition. It is said that they intend to go straight ahead with their measures now, reserving the Public Works Statement till the last. Sir Frederick Whitaker's name has been mentioned as a factor in the present party complications, but tho truth of the story is authoritatively contradicted. I understand that the Government have lost all fear of defeat, and state that the session will end in about a fortnight if their plan of action is not opposed, Mr Ormond 's reasons for refusing to move an adverse motion are variously stated. Some say that ho does not want office, and others that he fears the attitude of the native members respecting him would prejudice the success of any motion moved by him. On this being communicated to tbo Atkinson party, they decided to ask Mr Montgomery to perform the task. He at first, expressed his willingness to do so if Mr Macandrew, with whom he has always worked, would assist him. This, it seems, Mr Macandrew refused to do. It is understood that the Atkinson Party have given Mr Montgomery an assurance that, should the motion be moved by him, and prove successful, he will be untrammelled in his selection of colleagues should a new Ministry be formed.

Mr Montgomery Only Waiting. A member whose name has been mentioned as a probable mover of the hostile vote writes to me as follows :—" Mr Montgomery has not absolutely declined to move. He is only waiting for the production of the Public Works Estimates." This shows that the Opposition have not yet given up the intention of moving the hostile motion, though it seems to me that they have little chance, and, indeod, little hope of success. A leading Atkinsonite has written to me now (12.30 a.m.) giving the views and feelings of the Atkinson party on the situation. My correspondent's letter I place before your readers without further comment. "The idea of the no-confidence motion has not been given up, although it has been somewhat delayed, owing to the fact that both Messrs Ormond and Montgomery do not consider that the time has yet arrived for taking action, and prefer awaiting the delivery of the Public Works Statement, This appears to be the general feeling at the present time, although I myself do not agree with it. I think the time has come when decisive action should be taken, as I fear that it will be too late when the Statement is brought down. The Atkinson party behaved exceedingly well j throughout. Knowing that the House at the present time thinks that the party should not assume the reins of office, they agreed as a body to support and fight for a Ministry formed either by Mr O» mond or Mr Montgomery for the session, provided that party measures were brought down. They could not have done more. A np-confidence mojtion may be tabled at any moment, so that it must not be supposed that the matter is at an end, The Atkinson

party are not to blame at all events in not getting rid of Sir Julins Vogel, as they have done all in their power to effect the desired object." And with this I must ter- i minate my somewhat rambling statement of the situation.

A Piece of Government " Bluff." It having been asserted in this morning's paper, that Mr Macandrew had declined to join with Mr Montgomery in adverse action till the Otago Dock Trust matter waB disposed of, the Government have placed the Dock Act Amendment Bill at the head of tho Order Paper. This is intended as a direct challenge to the Opposition.

Latost-Tho Attack Postponed. The position of the no-confidence motion this afternoon is as . follows : — The matter is hung up till the Public Works Statement is delivered, when if a vote of £150,000 ia asked for the East and West Coast and Melson railways, it will be at once tabled. Sir George Grey this afternoon gave notice that on going into Committee of Supply, he will move the above resolution.