A " HAPPY FAMILY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 7

A " HAPPY FAMILY."

f- "" COUNTRY PARTY QUIESCENT.

| " GOSSIP AND SUGGESTIONS.

(ara-iAL to "the r-REss.") WELLINGTON, July 8. Tho country party, which held indignation meetings and threatened tha r . Government with all kinds of trouble and disaster when tho Land Bill vna ' before tho House- last year, has been keeping singularly quiet this cession. ( The members of tho party aro principally Government supporters, and it is hinted that their lack of activity •'■» duo to a surmise that the Government may give effect to a suggestion that has been current in respect to tho appointment of a number of Parlia- , mentary under-secrotaries, for the purt' poae of assisting Ministers in their administrative work. Tliere is also the prospect, should the health of Mr HallJoiim not improve sufficiently to * enable him to resume office at the ©rid of liia six months' leave of absence, of a vacant portfolio being available for •tome faithful follower of tho Government.

.'Lobby gossip has already connectt*i mombei-s of th© country party with tho »Uj:gt*sted appointments of undcr-secre-tariee, which would, of course, carry a "Pecial salary, and b© regarded, no . doubt, as serving as a stepping stone to possible higher honours in tho future. It is obvious, however, that *uoh appointments would not~lfree tho ,' Lovernment from embarrassment, a-» jhey would inevitably create great heartburning and discontent nmonpßt those of tho many aspirants for tho Position, who would havo to b© left

i nut in tho cold. In viow of this difficulty, it is doubtful whether the appointments will be mado. In tlio meantime, however, tho pleasing prospect created by th© suggestion seems I to havo had tho effect ot hardening up i . }"• Party for tho time being, and $ the r - yoverninent keep tho coveted bait ' - 'I f u -'Jj-' n S 01 " 6 the prominent members ' of their party, this position may con- ' ' tinn© to obtain for somo little time. , R ia unlikely from what I can leora, •( the suggested appointments took t Eractioal form, that thoy would meet * *»th favour in cither the Houso or I Wintry, tlioro being a prevalent fool- },. -n-j that the espouse of th© Goventi. tout is already sufficiently lirge. ''rSuch J PropoMil w.u.d main a bigaer row than '~ the Land Bill i.s likely erent<>," said "ne member to whom I spoko on the « •übject.