MEETING OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4958, 4 July 1881, Page 2

MEETING OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Wβ take the following from Saturday's "Poet:"—A caucus of Ministerial supporters was held in the Parliamentary Building! this morning. The whole proceedings, which lasted upwards of two hoars, are kept; as profound a secret; as it is possible for snoh proceedings to be kept. From what we can learc, there appears to have been an attendance of twenty-MX or twenty-eight members, including Meiers Dick (Colonial Secretary), Rolleeton, Johnston (Postmaster-G-eneral), and Atkinson (Colonial Treasurer). The disorganised state of the House was talked over at considerable length, and sereral members pressed upon the party the necessity of sticking to their, colors more closely than they had hitherto done. It is said Mr Wakefield made a long speech strongly urging this course. The question of the 20 per cent, grants out of the land fand to local bodies is said to hare taken up a large portion of the time of the meeting, several members strongly pressing for the 20 per cent, grant to be restored. Mr Wright, who has tabled a notice of motion calling for the appointment of a select committee " to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbor Board in respect to_ its present and future relations to the public creditor," is stated to have said at the caucus that he would not forego bis right to have that matter sifted *to the bottom. It is reported that no resolution was come to upon any subjeot, but several of the party think the proceedings exceedingly satisfactory, and that what has taken place will tend to strengthen the hands of Government. The disorganisation of the party arose, they say, from the fact that they are too strong, and some of the headstrong ones cannot easily be kept in hand.

[3Y TBEBOBAPH.]

. [VBOX OUE OWS OOBBB3POHDBHT. I WELLINGTON, JIJ7 3. Various unfounded rumors are afloat in the Opposition camp regarding yesterday , ! Ministerial cauous, one being that it was positively determined to restore the twenty per cent, of land fond to counties. This is incorrect, as nothing was resolved upon. What actually took place at the canon* v maintained v a strict secret, bat it is understood that the main object of the meeting was to promote the consolidation of the party, improve its organisation and arrive at a general understanding as to matters which should be deemed party question*, and on whioh members should agree to rote and act in concert j alto, for the Government to explain to their supporters their intentions m to the various moot pointa of policy and political action, and to consult on certain matters about whioh lome minor difference* of opinion might be expected to exist. The result ia stated by Ministerial members to have been satisfactory. Forty-six members were either present or accounted for, all of whom can, it is belie Ted, be ebaolntely depended upos to vote

with their party in the event of a iri«l o f strength on vital questions of policy It ia anticipated that the fruits of thii consultation will be e*fln in improved organisation and di*. t-ipltneiin tfee Ministerial camp, and that the Government will be in a position to go on •Pfgdily with the baeicess of the country wiHiout beijjg hampered by any dU&ffecfcioa among their,fqllowers, sn«sh as hae been prodfietl in tbja'pest, by a feeling that the party is ! %t» stronjgf'jihat individual members can safely rote as'fchey pleaie, and act quito inde"pondently of party tie*. There will, o f course, be some exceptions, but not of importance.