POLITICAL GOSSIP

Evening Star, Issue 15223, 30 June 1913, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP

[From Our Parmamkntarx Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, June 30,

It is expected that the Liberals will hold a Caucus this week to arrange a pUin of campaign and come to an understanding as to the Leadership. Concerning the rumor that Mr Wilford (Hutt) intended to form a new party, it is said that tho story i« a piece- of nonsense. The Hon. Mr Massey, Minister of Lands, states that the Government will next.month open 30,000 acres of land in various parts of the Dominion for closer settlement. There will be 186 sections.

It is reported that Mr J. Lonias, Secretary of Labor, will re-tiro on March 31, 1914, the end of tho prosent financial year. Tho ' Dominion' says that it ventures to suggest to the anti-Reformers not to speak on the Address-in-Reply, as they will be only wasting time in'talking. "As a matter of fact, they are inoro likely to embarrass the Government by not talking at all in this formal debate; that if they will do so they will compel Ministers to brine in their Bills at onco, and they will avoid exposing their own weakness. We have not much hope however, of our suggestion finding favor with tho Leadership of tha party still in the market. The gentlemen 'in the running' will no doubt want to show their paces. Moreover, fchcra are a good many 'independents' about the precincts of Parliament just now, and tha Party Whip of the Opposition has lost its sting. A party held together by nothing stronger than the desire to retain office is difficult to handlo when it loses its ono guiding principle and can see nothing ahead of it on which to build hopes; and it is probable that any attempt by the Committee of Leadership to close tho months of the party would bo followed by open mutiny on the part of some of the rank and file. It is a pleasant outlook for Mr Ma-ssey and his merry men."