PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4814, 13 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.] (beom oub own cobbhspondbnt.)

Wellington, This day. The Hon. Major Atkinson, instead of making a ministerial statement last night took an extraordinary, unconstitutional, and unprecedented course, in Breaking from the Treasury benches to the country, after having been defeated byajvote of the House. Although he made a Timorous speech in defence of the Government, he wn somewhat injudiciom

in his remarks, riir Geo. Grey followed, ; and in the first part,his speech was scathingly severe on the Premier and his administration; he then went on to speak in general terms of his own policy. The Address-in-reply, with Major Steward's amendment, was carried on the voices at 12.30, and the House adjourned till to-day at 2.30, when a committee of supply will sit. A general opinion prevails that the Government ia anxious to see an Opposition Ministry'in office, and that therefore on, Tuesday night (to which time the House will adjourn upon rising to-day) the Government will announce its intention of resigning, and that His Excellency will be recommended to send for Sir George Grey. This will be done in the hope that a Ministry from the Opposition will only succeed-' in making mistakes, and that a display of incompetence in administration will turn the tide in favor of the present Government, and against any Government the Opposition may form, before thegeneral election cornea round. There is no doubt in the minds of a majority this -will be the course which the present Government has mapped out, ■ though many still hold the opinion the Government's only creditable and manly course is to resign, and ask for an appeal to the country; and that this course the Government will pursue, feeling that no I useful legislation can possibly be aecomp- ' lish in the present state of the House. Time only can reveal which course the Government will adopt. In tho course of conversation with Sir George Grey this morning, he assurred me that he was prei pared for any eventuality.