THE OPPOSITION CAUCUS.

Evening Star, Issue 7337, 8 October 1887, Page 2

THE OPPOSITION CAUCUS.

[FROiil Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, October 7. The adjourned caucus of the Opposition party was held at four o'c'ock this afternoon, lnere were forty-two members present, and Beveral of these hud not arrived when the caucus yesterday was held, so that others who took part in the previous meating had absented themselves. Therewwa g nothing definite done. It appears from the remarks of one of the speakers that Major Atkinson will be asked to form a Ministry from the party. Mr Fulton again ocoupied the chair. Major Atkinson introduced the business of the meeting by an explanatory statement, in the course of which he said that it was not wise to be hurried in their deliberations. It would be better to discuss the matter again and have an adjournment till a future day. He believed that if the party could determine on a Premier, and give him and the Ministry he might form their cordial and enthusiastic support till the Financial Statement is brought down, all their difficulties would be overcome. Then, if they were not satisfied with the Statement, they would be at liberty to withdraw their support. For his own part he was quite prepared to take any part assigned to him, either in or out of the Ministry. At the same time, while he was prepared to act wi hj the Leader of the whole party, j he would not consent to be used by any section of the party. . Sir George Grey spoke twice after Major Atkinson had sat down. He said that the meeting yesterday was a wonderful one. He had never seen a meeting in which so much ability appeared to be represented and displayed in in the speeches made. Of course if such a party as that proposed could be organised and held together, it could introduce a new order of things in New Zealand. It would be of immense benefit both to the country and the people, and he indulged in the hope that a strong endeavor would be made to bring about such a consummation. He had noticed that a question had arisen respecting the appointment of an Attorney-General, and the difficulty in the way of obtaining a suitable gentleman to hold the position, but his own idea was that the position of Attorney-General should be held out of Parliament altogether, and that he should not be a member of the Ministry. In conclusion he spoke in terms of eulogy respecting Major Atkinson's disinterestedness in the whole matter of the formation of a Ministry. Mr Pyke, who was not present yesterday, followed He declared that he was going to support principles, and not men. The three planks which he insisted on in any Ministry before he would give them his support were—no increased taxation; a large reduction in the public expenditure; and no borrowing beyond what is necessaiy to complete the works in hand and to cover the deficiency in the public accounts. He spoke concerning the large amount of floating debt in March last represented by Treasury bills, and said that he would support anyone who would carry ort the planks in the platform he had indicated, but not otherwise.

Mr Fisher next spoke on the extent to whioh retrenchment might be made. He said that he had mixed among the new members and others, and found that they were not at all particular who they followed, so long as they were men who pledged themselves to a mastic scheme of retrenchment. He pointed out that in New South Wales quite recently the people found themselves in the same position as we are in to-day, and Treasurer Burns brought down a Financial Statement showing reductions to the extent of L 400.000. The revenue of that country was very much laiger than ours, and he thought our savings should be at least a quarter of a million. The young members would be satisfied with a party that would carry out a scheme of retrenchment, and he felt that the persons moving in that direction were sound at the core.

Mr Scobik Mackenzie thought it was an easy matter for ihe Northern members to accept Major Atkinson, but in the South there was a universal but unfair prejudice against him. If the country could realise that it was simply a question between Major Atkinson and Sir J. Vogel there would be no difficulty iu agreeing to accept Major Atkinson. He suggested that it might be possible for Major Atkinson to take a second place, so as to get over the difficulty. So far as retrenchment was oncerned, it might be popular in name, but it would be found very difficult to work out. Mr James Allen said he came there pledged not to men, but to principles, and he would follow any Ministry that wquld bring those pric - ciples into practical legislation. He would be prepared to follow any man the party liked to select until the Financial Statement was brought down, leaving himself free to act according tj his own judgment afterwards. Mr Moss insisted that they would not be doing justice to themselves or to the country if they did not fix a time within which the Financial Statement should be made. He was perfectly ready to give Major Atkinson his cordial support against all-comers, till he could formulate and bring down his policy; but they must not allow it to be put off till so late in the session that it could not receive careful consideration. Major Atkinson should take his own time—three or four weeks—even adjourn the House for that time, if he found it was necessary. It was impossible that they could bind themselves in advance to cany out the policy of the Financial Statement, whatever it might be. Major Atkinson! The policy would be submitted to a caucus of the party, and only what the majority might agree to would be submitted to the House.

Mr Moss: A majority of the caucus might be got against principles to which many of them were pledged—Protection, for example—and tho minority would have to submit and sacrifice all they valued, and so be regarded as deserters from their party if they did not. He considered it indispensable to limit the time for bringing down the financial policy. This would give retrenchment the preference. After that was effected they should be at liberty to act independently and form what parties they thought necessary. Sydney Taiwhanga made an amusing speech, in which he was severe on the borrowing of the late Government. Sir* John Hall, who had also arrived since the last caucus, made some remarks respecting the great victory they had obtained, and hoped no difficulty would be allowed to arise to take that victory from them. Mr Bruce ' said there was only one man outside Major Atkinson who, to use a nautical phrase, could be chosen as the figure-head of the party—viz., Sir George Grey. Sir G, Gbey explained what had transpired between himself and Major Atkinson after the latter was sent for by His Excellency. He had told Major Atkitson that it was not for the good of the Colony that he (Sir George) should be put forward, while he himself had the greater objeotion in that Ministers in this Colony rose and fell bo quickly that their power for good was destroyed. He favored the adoption here of some suoh system as was in vogue in the United States, where a permanent Ministry was established, which lived for four years without question. Mr Hiblop spoke strongly in favor of Major Atkinson as Premier.

Some desultory conversation followed, and eventually the caucus adjourned till two o'clock to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon, in order that members might think o<-er what had been said, and arrive at some definite conclusion.