THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 542, 9 December 1890, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

INTENTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.

INTERVIEWS WITH SIR H. ATKINSON, SIR G. GREY AND SIR R. STOUT. PROBABLE ASSEMBLY IN MARCH. [Special to Standard] Auckland, last nigliL The elections are still the absorbing topic of conversation here, and they are discussed in every circle. It is admitted that the one man one vote principle has had an important effect on the results all over the colony, and one significant outcome of the changes is the accession of strength to the Liberal party* which is now very strong. That the elections have gone against the Government is beyond question. Careful examination of the returns give those who have declared themselves in favor of turning out the present Government a total strength of 36. The Government ave 27 strong, and there are ten doudtful, but these are principally feeble Government supporters,’who were afraid to fight the election on the Government ticket. The Labor ticket has been fairly successful in the larger cities, but in the smaller electorates, such as Port Chalmers, where Mr Millar was badly beaten by Mr Mills, it has in many instances been unsuccessful, The Government themselves recognise that they are in a minority. Bir Harry Atkinson, the Premier, in the course of an interview, confessed that, after the sanguine estimates of Ministerial successes, he was naturally disappointed that they should have no majority at all, but he had never made any such excessive estimate as the New Zealand Times for instance, which, on the morning of the election, said that Ministerialists must be in an over whelming majority, and put the number of them as certain to be returned at 44, with 13 doubtfuls. As to the Labor members, the Premier did not anticipate that it mean' there was to be any keen demarcation of parties on Labor lines, but he believed that it certainly indicated a forward social movement. With the calibre of the new Parliament Sir Harry whs disappointed, and in his opinion it would not be up to the standard of that just dissolved. Mention was made as to Sir" Maurice o‘Rnrke’a successor, and Mr Ro’leston suggested as a man on whom moat people would at once fix. Sir Harry thought he or Mr Bryce were the only men that occurred to anyone just at present, but he was not sure that either would take the position. He had not pledged, the Ministry to resign, but had said that if the elections went against him ho would act in a constitutional way. It was now hl« duty to call

his Ministers together and consult with them on the position, The perfectly constitution*! way would he to call Parliament together as early as possible. It was extremely inconvenient to assemble the House before the end of March, but it was quite likely this was what wou’d have to be done. The Premier thought there was a difference between the Opposition and himself on the ques'inn of finance ; he was perfectly certain the country would not have u land and income tax, and he did not believe ths Opposition were earnest' in advocating it. Generally speaking, however, there was no difference between bia party and the other, The latter merely wanted to do in a hurry what he and his colleagues wanted to do quietly. Sir Harry did not avow any great repugnance to the idea of a coalition ministry, but the general tenor of his remarks went to show that he thought it would not be easy to arrange it, even were there a general desire on both sides. As to the question of reducing the number of Ministers, which in the new Parliament muit be restricted to fix salaried holders of portfolios, Sir Harry said so far he was concerned Mr Hislop's rejection had done it already for them. Sir G< Grey was also interviewed at Auckland as to the general result of the elections. Sir George considered it to be decidedly against the Government, and in the South Island he found also Ithat a very great number of the elected candidates were in favor of a Land Tax, but he could give no opinion as to the strength of the Opposition, nor as to how it would act against the Government. Neither had he thought much about the effect of a reconstruction of the Ministry, though he thought such a reconstruction must take place, owing to the defeat of Mr Hislop, and the retirement of Sir Harry. The wisest course for the Opposition to pursue, in Sir Georga‘s opinion, if that body feels itself compact and etrong, under ft good leader, is is to petition the Governor for an immediate calling together of Parliament. The only question is whether the Opposition party la or is not a compact one resolved on a common policy againct the Government. If the Governor were petitioned by a majority of the newly elected members he would probably call Parliament at once, as would be done in other places. It would be decidedly unconstitutional for the present Government to hold the reins of office after they had lost the confidence of the country, and to delay the calling of Parliament till nest April or May.

The returns are practically the same as previously telegraphed, except that further outstations give Mr Hutchison a majority over Mr Bruce, and Mr McArthur has beaten Mr McArdle.

A correspondent wires from Wellington : I had a few words conversation this afternoon \vi’h Sir Robert £|tout, who is now in Wellington, as to the result of the elections. That he is well pleased with it was manifest. I oould scarcely expect that he would express an opinion as to future political developments. The wildest speculations are afloat as to the po’itical situation, and the influence of the n*w members. Ministers may be expected in Wellington in the course of next week or ten days. A meeting of the Cabinet will bs called together immediately they shall have arrived. This will run the available time for deliberation and decision to the eve of Christmas holidays. The full Cabinet will reassemble the first or second week in January. I learn that the issue before the Cabinet will be whether, in view of the general elections, Parliament should not be called together at the earliest possible date. This date is said to be the middle or end of February, but in any case Parliament must be early in April. Whether the urgency of affairs will require an earlier meeting can only bu determined by the Government when all the Ministers shall have assembled.