The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1884. THE MINISTERIAL DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1745, 25 July 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1884. THE MINISTERIAL DIFFICULTY.

The new Parliament appears to be divided into four sections, Ist, Ministerialists, numbering a full third of the members; 2nd, Vogelites, counting a bare third; 3rd, Greyites, constituting a sixth part of the House: and 4th, the Independent members who make up the balance. We presume that His Excellency will call upon Major Atkinson to form a Ministry, and the question will then havo to be faced as to whether the Ministerial party will advise the formation of an Atkinson Ministry or a Coalition cabinet. If an Atkinson Ministry be formed it cannot live, Opposition members have been returned pledged to drive out the Atkinson Ministry, and Sir George Grey is. pledged to drag Major Atkinson and his colleagues from their seats. It is doubtful whether Major Atkinson even if he secures the adhesion of all the Independent members on the roll would have a working majority. On the other hand it is possible that Major Atkinson may make the best of the situation by forming a Coalition Ministty, and giving the first place in it to Sir Julius Yogel, Such an arrangement would satisfy the country as it is the only honest coalition that can be effected. When the Independent members of the House range themselves there will still be three parties, and the balance of power will be very much m the hands of Sir George Grey, The Knight of Kawau has not, however to finesse with the member for Akaroa in the new Parliament. Mr Montgomery has come back to Wellington like little 80-peep's sheep leaving his tail behind him, Sir Julius Yogel takes his place and the little games Sir George Grey used to play with the late leader of the Opposition will not avail with his successor. In the new Parliament Sir Georoe Grey cannot exercise the influence that he brought to bear in the last one, • Abler men are now in the House than formerly, and it will be useless for either Major Atkinson or Sir George Grey to attempt to lead them. They must be content to play second fiddle. The lesson which the late election teaches is that the people of the colony are weary of mediocre Ministers. They have returned better'men to take their places and the change must be effected, Either there must be a voluntary surrender on the part of Major Atkinson or there must be a pitched battle, in which he will inevitably be defeated. Major Atkinson cannot form a Ministry from the members of his late Cabinet which will live. Sk George Grey cannot construct one. If Major Atkinson holds out it is only a question of time for the task to fall into the hands of either Sir Julius Yogel or Mr Ormond.