PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4812, 11 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.] (rBOM OUB OWN COIfeBBrONDBNT.)

Wellington, Last night. Sir G. Grey Opposition Leader.

Upon the House meeting to-day, it became at once apparent that something definite bad been decided upon, albeit the result clearly showed that the Opposition is in as disorganised a state as ever. Up to this morning it was not known what arrangements had been come to between Sir G. Grey and Mr Montgomery. Negotiations between the two leaders have been pending since, yesterday, and so far as can be learned it was proposed that the moving of the amendment to the Address-in-Reply should be left to Opposition whip 3 (Messrs Steward and Feldwick), and that in the event of the amendment being carried the movers, upon* being sent for by His Excellency, should intimate that they had no recommendation to offer. This would ,have necessitated His Excellency sending for one of the leaders of the Opposition, and the reason tbiis course was proposed was because those two gentlemen each claimed to be leaders, and the ruse, had it been successful, wonld have relegated to His Excellency the delicate task of determining! which of them was really the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. However, the two gentlemen chiefly concerned' in this little arrangement agreed to differ as to the manner of carrying it out, each fearing, perhaps, that His Excellency would send for the other. The Premier, however, has pretty well settled the difficulty, and Sir George Grey has adroitly , secured from the Government an acknow- | ledgement that he is considered the real leader of the Opposition. It happened in this way: Mr Steward (Opposition whip) gave notice of motion for an addition to the - Address -in - Reply, "That in the opinion of this House, the present Government do not possess the confidence of this House," and Sir G. Grey almost immediately gave notice for Friday next —"That this House has no confidence in the present Government, either in its administration or conduct of affairs." Had the matter remained at that, no great light would have been thrown on the sitting, and in ail probability Mr Steward's motion would have been carried, and upon being sent for he would have recommended His Excellency to send for Mr Montgomery, but upon the House proceeding with the business on the order paper, viz., the appointment of Sessional Committees, Mr Seddon objected, and animadverted upon the absurdity of Government undertaking to set4l p Committees of the Session almost wholly composed of their own supporters, in the face of the adverse motion about to come op; The Premier replied that Government were in some difficulty, in as much no adverse motion had been tabled by the recognised leader of the Opposition, and Government could not take the responsibility of delaying the work of the House and country until after the adverse motions referred to had been debated, as they woul4 probably occupy some weeks in discussion. Sir George Grey then rose and said he thought the Premier should state whom he considered the leader of the Opposition. Major Atkinson replied immediately that, speaking not from what he knew outside, but from intuition, he could only indicate the hon. gentleman (Grey) whojust sat down. Theanquncement was received with cheers and laughter, but Sir George rose, and at once intimated his willingness to accept the responsibility of the postponement of the appointment of Sessional Committees. The postponement was agreed to by Government and the House, Sir George thanking the Premier for his courtesy in acceding to big Irishes and thug accepting the opinion

nf thf and vote o! lliu tiuuse.as. a ratification of that opinion, of the position of leader of the Opposition. Mr Fish immediately attempted to so,w dissension by intimating that he did not feel bound to follow- the lead of the Premier's choice. 1 Mr Montgomery sat silently, and there can be no doubt but that Sir George Grey's action has completely taken the wind out of the member, for Akaroa's sails.

It is certain now that numerically the Opposition is in good majority, but as they will not all walk infc> the same lobby on direct votes of want of confidence, the result of the debate must be a matter for uncertainty until after Friday. Sir George Grey has given notice of a bill to effect better protection for the writers for the press, the principle of which is that leaders in newspapers shall be signed with the names of their authors; also of a bill to abolish the half-penny newspaper postage. . , This day. Yesterday negotiations were • pending during the whole day between the different sections of the Opposition to endeavor to arrive at a successful basis of arrangement, whereby a combined assault on'the-: Government could be carried. Mr - Montgomery's obstinacy was a stumbling block for many hours, but at nine o'clock last evening it was agreed by all sections to walk in a body into the lobby with Major Steward on his amendment. The meeting went on till after midnight, and - it was agreed that if the amendment were carried and Major Steward were sent for by the Governor, he would make no recommendation, out would leave it with His Excellency to send for Sir George Grey or Mr Montgomery. It is probable , that Sir George Grey will be sent for, Major Atkinson having recognised him as leader of the Opposition. This arrange-' ment was ratified this morning at an Opposition caucus! Thirty members of the Opposition were present at the caucus, two sent apologies; Grey and Morris were absent, and seven good votes to arrive by the steamer today were accounted for. Sir Geo. Grey bad signified his willingness to accept Major Steward's amendment, if Mr Montgomery agreed to do tbe same. It is probable that now the contending elements are appeased, Sir Geo. Grey will withdraw the notice of motion of want of confidence tabled for Friday next.

Mr Sutton, a Ministerialist, has just given notice to add to the Address-in* Reply, " That in the event of Major Steward's amendment being carried, that His Excellency be.requested to grant supplier and, it being impossible to* recommend advisers, the House asks for a dissolution."

The debate on Major Steward's amend* ment has been opened by Mr Shrimski, who is now speaking.