CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 8 September 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the. Editor,)

Sir—l was much surprised on reading your leading article of September 2nd to observe that you appear to consider that Major Atkinson is responsible for all the political evil that New Zealand is now suffering from. I think sir, I am right in stating that I know as much of Major Atkinson's opinions and the inner political life of the Atkinson party as any member of the house, and I positively affirm tbiit Major Atkinson has on each occasion when action lias been taken placed himself unreservedly in the hands of those working with him, wishing himself to avoid for a time at any rate the responsibilities of office. If Sir Julius Vogel had chosen wisely when the opportunity was afforded him of n'omi:! nating a Ministry, the Atkinson party, would have assisted him in conducting the business of the country, and certainly no hostile vote would have bean given unless the government had endeavoured to force unwise measures. However the majority that followed Mr Thomson into the lobby, .proved that the objections to Sir Julius ;Vogel's choice and policy as announced in his speech would have rendered any continuous work in face of such an opposition impossible. Ml' Thomson then endeavoured to form a Ministry,. Sir George Grey also had'an opportunity, but both failed even to suggest a Ministry for the approval of parliament, t A meeting of those that voted in opposition to Mr Stouts Ministry was then called, about 54 members were present or represented at the meeting, Major Atkinson was unanamously requested to form a Ministry, and this he did.

The defection of the section of the 54 led by Sir George Grey rendered the | continuance of tho Atkinson Government in office doubtful, and to avoid another crisis the negoitations that had been previously conducted so successfully were, at the instance of some of the Canterbury members, again resumed. These negociations were conducted by me with every wish on my part, and of tho majority of the Atkinson party to make any fair concession to the Stout-Vogel party that would help to smooth over and obviate the existing difficulty. Although a considerable section of the Stout-Vogel party were anxious to come to terms I cannot think that Mr Stout was in earnest, otherwise he would never have made such inadmissible propositions, We offered to meet them on equal terms, This was refused,, and negociations ended. Since the defeat of the Atkinson Government other negociations have been attempted, but the terms again were such that our party could not possibly accept, and an expression of opinion was given to this effect as quoted by you in your leader of the 2nd instant.

I think the position now is this—although not by any means satisfied with the constitution of the present Ministry; that taking into consideration the difficulty that has beea experienced in arranging a fair basis for coalition, that the present Ministry should have a fair trial, and that unless they attempt to pass any obnoxious measures, they should be allowed to develops their plans without being subjected to factious opposition,

I think, sir, if you carefully consider what I have stated, that you must admit that neither Major Atkinßon nor his party can justly be termed " the party of obstruction." I am, &c., George Beetham. MR R. S. HAWKINS V, MR G. BEETHAM.

Masterten, 29th August, 1884,

My Dear Beetham,—At your public meeting on the night before your election in answer to my challenge as lo the course you would take with regard to any Ministry that might be formed other than the late administration, you said that you would not offer any factious opposition to such a Ministry. It is certain that at this time,we all had in view the formation of a Yogel administration. Now your first vote was given against the Yogel Ministry, and apparently without giving that Ministry a reasonable opportunity of laying its poliov before the Houbb. I cannot suppose that the House had any objection to the. policy

shadowed out' in the Governor's speech, mover, nor the of as far as I anrkware Aify other member who supports/it made any attempt to discuss," 'much less to attack it. It ; appears on'the;face of it, therefore, to • • .be a vpt%glven simply in direct oppositioh/to-yQur public promise. IfrSh fa not for letter to questions Qfi[^jicy. i ; ; I will osy sajr ■ jwith regard.'to Sir Julius that '' ftp bo eminently unfortunate tharpe i.who had moat undoubtedly a : .![%rge Support in the ak ofv ihose services as a most able financiel® the colony stood: in great need, should have been thus by a dumb vote' refused the opportunity of examining into the/ finances ancL propounding his .budget. :I'think, considering ;,whsc • passed at : ; thg last ele'btio'n,! am or impertinent in asking you ip f jgive • your reasons for the course you ftok, and„l must add that Itlnuk Aecessary that this letter and ybiSreply should be made public. ; "■rf" ■ I am, to :'■« ■; Kgbert B,'HawkiSs. " George Beetham JLEK^

Wellington, September 6,1884". Mv Dear HATO(NSj--Your lettpr of' tlio 29th lilt. I duly received. You are quite right in yoiir statement re! the public meeting at Mastertoiii I. said .that if electcl I. would not-offer any- factious opposition to "anyi'llinistry that might follow the Atkinson Govei'jjment.- You are also quite right in assuming tkt I had! in. view Jh^rj' I made the above remark the possibility of a .formation of a'/Vogel' administration under the- .Premiership'of Sir Julius himself. .Had Sir Julius acted, with even ordinary .judgment ill selecting fotiifs colleagues -men in'any degree acceptable to 'even affair

minority of the House, riot'onjy.myself but the whole of the Atkinson'party had thoroughly made up their niy*ds to ■ give him a reasonable port throughout the session. Wlieu Sir Julius undertook office connected with and apparently under the influfa ence of men that we know were the declared enemies of. the unity of the colony, and also the! enemies of Wei-

liiigton particularly, I and my friends with me thought it time to interfere. •The strongobjections to the constitution of the Ministry and their proposals was .proved by the large majority X (nine-, •teen) that voted against the' first'' Stout-Yogel combination, and indica ted the impossibility of a; Ministry so constituted being able to conduct with any prospect of success tho business of the session. I always believed our action would lead to a coalition and' !the formation ot n strong Government, ill tin; constitution of which the .interests of all parties might fairly bo considered. Through the obstinacy of extreme men <m either tide after the first crisis conlit ion was rendered im-

possible. At a meeting culled oQAose memhers that voted against thefP>utVogel Ministry, at which lifty-one members attended and three'otheiifc were represented, an unanimous res'otion was passed asking Major Atkinson to form a Ministry; this he reluctantly agreed to attempt. The whole question was fairly placed before us by the Major; he seemed to lean rather to a course of reasonable opposition to the Government then, though defeated, still in office; but in deference to the wishes of the fifty-four members lie formed his Ministry.

Ibe result you know, Previous to the lust division by which the Atkinson Ministry was displaced flora ofhce, and some ot the Canterbury members interviewed me and asked me to carry on negotiations between the parties with a view of effecting a fair coalition. This I agreed gladly to do. The Atkinson party, now deserted by''"' the Grey section, but still in poriMmon ; of tlio Treasury benches, by awßrge majority agreed to a proposal for coalition, but obstinacy again prevailed en the other side. Our offer to mefk on equal terms was not agreeable to their wishes. After the division took placo another attempt was made with the same object in view, but the terms were such that our party could not possibly accept, The resolution passed at a caucus of our party proved that we then gave up the attempt as useless. As far as I can ascertain, the view now of the Atkinson party, is this: that'we shall not now offer any factious opposition, although far from being satisfied with the constitution of the present Ministry, but assist in pushing forward the business of the session, giving every facility for the developement of the Treasurer's proposals. At the same time we shall use a watchful care and endeavor to prevent any such baneful proposals such as a land tax or kindred measure being passed. I hope that I have been able to convince you that I have not been unmindful of my pledge, my own conscience—always a severe censor—acquits me.

Yours sincerely, . George It, S. Hawkins, Esq. • '