THE OPPOSITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 9, 10 July 1912, Page 8

THE OPPOSITION

CAUCUS TO BE HELD TO-DAY •A caucus of the new Opposition is to ■be held at 4.30 this afternoon. Messrs. 1^ M'Kepzie and E. H. Clark have not been invited. The caucus will discuss tfia.Jsnb.ject. of the selection of a leader, lout it_ is euggested that finality will not be" reached m one sitting. ' There are evidently certain difficulties in the way, which it may take some time to adjust, bat the more hopeful members of the party are of opinion that as a result the? party will emerge in a more solid condition than it hae been for years. As. to other possible defections from the ranks, ono representative member remarked that the eooner they come the better. "Let any one who wants to get out go as soon as he likes: We ■want to know the strength of the party, and as soon as we know that, we can commence bringing about the solidification that is necessary to -effective iwork." The optimistic sentiments expressed in the foregoing are, however, not endorsed by all members of the party. Some of them consider that the forces which preceded the -disintegration that led to its downfall are still operating, and that it will take quite a long time to bring about reunion. Generally, lobby opinion to-day inclines to the belief that Mt. Masaey ia likely to be given a reasonable show, not only by his friends, bnt his political opponents, providing always that his legislative proposals are progressive and liberal. Mr. Craigie, M.P., interviewed in Timaru by a local reporter, said that he was obliged by the rules of fair play to support the Government in the noconfidence division. But he did not consider nimself now as bound to either party, H© was a Liberal by conviction and. would support Liberal principles and Liberal measures, irrespective of ;what, party they emanated from. He Iwas in Parliament to work in the best •interests of his electorate and the best interests of New Zealand, and would do JKis duty irrespective of party.