The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 1887. SHELVIVG A MINISTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2673, 13 August 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY AUGUST 13, 1887. SHELVIVG A MINISTRY.

A rumour is current, for the' authenticity of which we do not pretend to vouch, writes the New Zealand Times of yesterday, but what ia of sufficient interest to mention for what it may be worth. It is said that Sir Julius V.ogel was definitely offered by his colleagues the position of pormanent head of the Government Insurance Department, but declined to accept the post; that it was next proposed to appoint him.Controller and Auditor General if Mr J, E. FitzGerald would consent to retire on his pension, but 'that as the latter gentlemen flatly refused to do so, the plan necessarily fell through. Thero may not be a word of truth in this report, but so • the story goes, and we give it accordingly without expressing any opinion as to its probablity or improbability." One of the weak points in the Ministerial party during the present election caampaign is the notoriety they are obtaining from the obvius differences which exist between members of the Cabinet, It is somewhat doubtful if even Sir Robert Stout, and Mr Ballance are pulling together as they should do. We know that a Stout candidate, Mr McCardie, and a Ballance candidate, Mr W. C. Smith are standing for the same constituency and unless Mr W. C. Smith is suddenly made a lord we do not see how the obvious difficulty can be surmounted, But if Sir Robert Stout and Mr Ballance agree it is notorious that they and Sir Julius Vogel always have been at loggerheads. In practical politics Sir Julias is an old hand, whereas Messrs Stout and Ballance are comparatively green and however much the latter may dislike tlie former lie is by- virtue of his ..superior ability their master, The : suggestion made that a highlj paid, official should resign upon a pensionto make room for Sir Julius appears somewhat peculiar on the part of a Ministry which is supposed to be practicing retrenchment as it would necessarily involve an additional annual charge on the Treasury. Perhaps if the Colony has to provide for any played out Minister, Sir Julius might claim a preference. If Sir Julius Vogel were shelved, the presont " neck or nothing Ministry" would not be long in reaching the end of their tether. They would liavo hung themselves long ago if Sir Julius Vogel had only given them rope. For his own sake, no doubt, ho has kept them and is keeping them on their feet, but when cautious papers like the New Zealand Times publish rumors like the one they reported yesterday, the end of the unholy alliance i 6 near.