THE GOVERNMENT CAUCUS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1905, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT CAUCUS

'J HE PBEMIEJPB TACTETL TAUTKjy. CONS!DEBED To HAVE O(TWITTED THE OPBOSITIov. [«* ULIXXJII'J TKimCiJlAl'ir. j (Our Parliamentary Heperler.)

WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government caucus which was held yesterday was a brief and orderly gathering, so much so, indeed, that the member fur Ashburton, who is nothing if not aggressive, after sleeping through its earlier stages, ultimately abandoned it. in distrust at its lameness.

The caucus was practically unanimous in accepting the series of resolutions submitted by Iho I’remier, hut this was not to he wondered at, inasmuch as the chief members of the party had been previously consiilled concerning them, and indeed the resolutions submitted embodied some suggestions initialed from the ranks of Iho parly. There was no discussion as to (lie advisability of (lie Government party silling light and not debating (he resolutions, and the party will approach them wit Si an absolutely free band so far as llieir discussion is concerned. Ihe resolutions will, of course, ultimately he embodied in a, Bill, but there is a shrewd suspicion (hat; (he measure, whatever it is, will not see first sight, of a disintegration of (ho the Statute Book (his session. '.l.here is some suggestion, on the first sight, of a disintegration of the party. One is found in (he fact that Messrs Arnold, Ell, Latuviison and Remington, who were all within the precincts of the House, were not present at the caucus. In (lie case of Mr Laurenson, his direct association with the New Li-

licr.'il pari,} - was of course responsible for liis being dropped, and for the first time for many sessions ho was not bidden to the gathering of the Government (dans.

fn I lie ease of Mr Arnold, the member for Dunedin purposely absented himself for what lie personally described as “good reasons,” and it: is Ids expressed intention not to attend any further caucuses of the party this session.

.So far as Mr Remington is concerned, ho also declined to attend, although pressed by the Government whip to do so, even while the caucus was in progress. His attitude on the freehold question, it, is supposed, was primarily responsible for his abstaining from taking part in the proceedings.

Mr EH was the victim of circumstances, for by isoino unfortunate oversight he was forwarded an empty envelope instead of a caucus card of invitation, and as an apology promptly followed, his absence may bo regardI ed as quite without significance. The tabling of the reslutions is considered on all sides to be another of those pieces of sterling diplomacy of which Iho Premier is continually “guilty.” Tie is regarded as having cut a good deal of ground from under the feet of the Opposition, and to have made the moving of a direct vote of no-confidence on the resolutions impossible. As one member puts it, there are “puddings for some and pies for others, and cakes fov those who don’t like cither." I

[ This attitude w;,B significantly illus- : tratod by Sir Wm. Russell, who interI jeeted when the Maori Council’s resoj luiiiiu was real, "X hat's mire.” i The resolutions, it is understood, will be debated seriatim, and those ■ dial are adorned by die House will ultimately bo embodied in the Bill to bn brought down. There will be some dillieulty attaching to this course, for whilst approving of the resolutions ,‘is a whole, ! there arc some among them which

[ ovi u the Government, parly cannot ■ see eve to eye, more especially when election pledge!) are taken into account The Premier is regarded as having once more found the most accessible * j exit from what had been regarded as 1 a, nolitical cul do sac. ' ' * LATER. The Premier, it is understood, thinks that he has a very reasonable prospect B , ~,f placing the legislation upon the 3 ! i'llai lit l .* Book embodying tho decision [ ; „f a majority of tho House upon the ; individual resolutions submitted. ’’ ( u any case, tho question is one ■' which is likely to occupy a consider--0 I able time. There will certainly be i a long delude upon the resolutions bu- | foie they arc dismissed seriatim, ami " ] after that their individual discussion [will occupy some 1 ime. ' | Some of' them may ho approved in ’ j t!m House by small majorities, and 11 | this, of course, will mean a fresh dis'l i cushion of them as embodied in the ' l I Bill.

THE PURPOSE OK TILE RESOLI TJONS.

THE LAND QUESTION ONLY TO

BE DEALT WITH

Mr Scddon gave notice to move that the House resolve itself into a committee to deal with the report of tlie Royal Commission on Lands ami lo determine the following matters, so that a Bill may be introduced thin

1. That the lease in perpetuity system be repealed and that there he substituted in respect to rural lauds leases of between 50 and 99 years, with right of renewal, from 21 to 50 years; failing which tenants to be compensated for improvements —(a) Occupation with rigid of purchase; (Ii) purchase for cash; (<■) existing tenures to continue.

2, Whether lessees who now occupy laud under lease in perpetuity, and who have acquired land under tho Laud Act, 1892, are lo he allowed to acquire (ho freehold.

5. Whether persons who occupy under the two mentioned systems are to be enabled to acquire tho. freehold at: (ho original capital value. 4. If the lessees are allowed lo pinchase, shall (he moneys be expended iu purchasing land for close net dement !

5. All leasees, after 10 years’ occuoancy, pay off one moiety of the capital value in sums of £lO or any mul-

liple thereof, the rentals living proport ornately reduced.

6. Should the right to acquire (lie freehold be granted present lessees, ,he sect ions and areas held by them shall remain as at present.

7. Crown lands, the capital value of which dons not. exceed £1 per acre, to ho dealt with under existing comiii A,ns. 8. Native lauds to be classified (lie same as Grown lauds. 9. It shall be unlawful for any person, company, etc.. Induing SGOO acres first-class rural land or 10.000 acres of second-class rural land to increase liu ic holdings. 10. [(: shall be unlawful for any person, company, etc., owning urban or ,suburban lands to Hie unimproved value of £50.000 to acquire the fee simple of any more lands. 11. The presold system of nominat-

ed l and Boards to be mainiained, and that each land didricl lie divided into ridings, persons having local knowledge to be appointed members of the Board.; and, further, (lint at least one Crown (eiituil should he on each Laud Board. 12. Land Boards shall have power to re'a.x cropping conditions wherever HI ce c-.arv.

13. Residence mu-I he continuous

for six years under an yleimrc

14. The present ballot system, being the fairest mode of determining who shall become the owner when more than one apnlicnnt, shall con-'-;ne. The grouping system and second. ballot shall ho maintained. Mr Seddon stated he Imped to si art (he debate on the motion on Tuesday next. MEJf AND T3HXUS AMOAI) Dr Vi. IT, I'ilclicli contributes to the i'.lclboiirno Argus, under the above heading, route iuiere.-Jing notes on his reeeni (rip to \ ancouver, from which we make the following exlraels, which we feci sure will he read with ini crest : THE A !.b-BED BoIJTE. Ihe "all-red route” is geographically imt all read. At Honolulu (lie colour note j.; broken, and the Tnion •back gives place to the stars and stripes. |j is curiously composite, 100, being Australian in one section, ('a uadi a; t in aimlhcr, and British or Canadian iti yet another. Who frauds by (ho "all red route” to Europe sails across 7009 miles of the Pacific in 01! e oi (he line steamers of (he *(.aiini*ian-A its! ral'Vn Ipm, of which the Tnion S.S. are the managing agents, crones Canada in the rnioothninning cars of Dm ('amelia Pacific railway, and (lieu, sailing down the majestic and, many-isled St, l.awrcm e in one or nt'er of the great Canadian sleamships, reaches the Atlantic. But tlm lino in each section is under one Hag, anil is sufficiently red in colour to satisfy the most patriotic sensibili- | ‘Os. Anil it is as j.dcl uresque as it is pal riotic, X ll other rente to Enro|iy lias a colour scheme so vivid, or ohcrs to every sense experiences so varied.

■* ,ll ‘ I’aeitic service is contributed to by I In- Governments of Canada Queensland, New .South Wall’s, and New /(■aland, ami nobody need wish f"r bettor conditions of sea travel Ilian it, supplies. The Manuka, on lion which these pages are written, is a si earner of nearly 5000 lons, wilh too lines of a yacht and a steadiness in rough weal her which s( earners three limes her tonnage do mil always possess. For seamanship on the bridge, '•■ml'.' and comforl in (ho saloon, and I ii“ pel feel ion of organisation and courtesy everywhere, (he service would bear comparison with any of the areal; passenger lines of (ho world. Gmisideied as Inc Australasian com rihulion to lie "all red route,” il is a very splendid hit of work. And a run of 7000 miles Ihroiigh (lie i-laml groups of (lie I’aci/ic and across what Tennyson calls "the broad belt of (he world.|, js—granted decqiil weather and a sea-going stomach—a delightful hit of sea experience. A MIRROR OF AC,STRATA SI AN LIFE.

And somehow I lie docks and (he passenger lisls nf fhe Manuka aiv a more expressive loile.v of Ihe life of Am (ralia and Now Zealand (han (hose i any oilier ships whiidi leave Aiistra lian wafers. The groups under l:h wliile awnings of (ho Manuka are perfect mirror of (he life of (ho Am Iralasian colonies—nf both (heir fail uros and their successes—pic(uresqu enotigh to satisfy an arlisf, and sug geslivo enough lo delight a philoso pher. MIXED CARGOES.

The docks, of course, reflect' that migratory impulse ijii British bkod which Jins so powerfully shaped British history, and goes so far to explain | the British Empire. Here is the second son of a good English county | family, a Cambridge man, who lias been sugar-growing in Queensland, is driven out: from (hat State by the "White Australia” policy, and is on

his way either to start a ranch in Canada or to grow rubber in the Straits Settlements. All skies and soils arc alike to him. He is the type of a class somewhat inarticulate in itself, hut on which much picturesque prose and many rhymes have been expended. Here, again, is a British Columbian, smooth-faced, quiet-mannered, who knows (he wild landscapes of Alaska and the ice-bound waters of the •Behring Straits as he i 'knows the palm of his own hand. Tie i has driven a dog-sled across wide i leagues of Arctic snows, and is ns ! familiar with Klondyke as a London j club man is with Piccadilly. When 1 ten years younger he assisted to carry t relief stores to a cluster of ice-bound ] whalers somewhere in the neighbour- c hood of Hcrscliel Island, and came a back overland by the Alexandra, the n Rat River, the Porcupine, and the Yu- r ( ko«, charting ati ho went, and WR*5 n

matlc a Fellow of (3:e JToval C-'emgra-nhica.l fr-cHly r. s rewaid. Ami’ ho is not ye i thirty-live years old. (iosrk.-i or liiu JUanuka. an uncomfortable, biti, perhaps very wholesome, school. Disgust with Australian poli•ms amongst Australians themselves is hitter and loud on every deck ; and that its politics arc driving people from Australia finds abundant proof. D.ei’o is a sugar-grower from Queensland, who drops off at Fiji in search of Some happy land where lie will not o; 1 compelled to employ labourers of mie particular colour of skin. Here D a business man from New Renin 1 !es, accustomed to deal with big "nfiirs. who discourses on the Arbilni- ■ i ni Ac! with .a gloomy energy ami an ordered wealth of Carls wliicii would si raugely uisturb (lie complacency of •'dr 13. it. Wise, if lie could only bear

d. .Here is an archilect and engineer, who has silent more than 40 years in Australia and New Zealand, and is leaving both, as he explains, not because he lias failed, but that his sons may have a chance of success. When he was himself a young fellow of 21 in Australia—this is 40 years ago—ho earned £250 a year, and had a fu- ■ "; to-day, his son, aged 20. is in a big warehouse, does the work of a man, gets the wages of a hoy, and has no prospects. So (his father is tak-

• ”3 his family to a country where, as lie puls it, “a young fellow lias a eitnuiv. ’ Australia, he admits, in 'oimate, soil, and all natural condiHons, has immense advantages ovv ■"'U.-ida ; but then, in Victoria every : h’vd inhabitant lives in iUtdlionvue. i In; social slate—for a new cfmntry—is artificial and evil. In Western Canada, for which this father and his sons are bound, out of every hundred inhabitants 92 arc on (ho land, and only eight in the towns. TIo knows of a Canadian town where the houses cannot be built fast enough for (he people; and to this architect's paradise he is betaking himself. In 10 •r 20 years he calculates Australia will have mended its ways, and be acting on a saner policy; but pending (hat; beatific event lie emigrates.

STEERAGE DOLITtCS. Dul diseonlenl with Australian jmlilics is by no means confined to (he saloon, and to Die class represented by the saloon passenger list. It is iust, as strong in the steerage. Here are 63 passengers in Dio third-class, of whom 54 are men; and (hey are at 1 leaving Australia. They are a ripple which shows (he flow of what is not yet a tide, but which may easily become one. They are not failures. They have cash in (heir pockets, brains in their heads, skill in their lingers. 1 hey are carpenters, farmers, gardeners. millers; most of them with families; all of Diem with money. Some of (hem, indeed, are, in i.lieir way, small capitalists. They are exact I v the men whom it. would nay Australia fo import at almost anv cost ; hut they are leaving it, and in almost every ease owing (<> seme deep disgust with its legislation. The discus! has various roots. Sometimes it is because Parliament lias done too much; sometimes because it does (no little, and always because it does the wrong thing. Xcw Zealand, it is somewhat surprising to find, is represented in this outward flow. Many cases might he given from Dio passenger list of this or recent steamers. Here is a farmer from Otago, for ex - - amplo, who puts £BOO in Die purser’s hands for safe keeping; another farmer with an even bigger amount of cash from Wellington; yet another fanner, from Auckland, with £llOO solid cash in his pockets, and licit or wealth still in Die shape of three lino sons and a daughter. They are all going to a country where the farmer gets the freehold of the land he clears and cultivates, for the discontent in Mew Zealand with the leasehold system, if inarticulate, is both deeper and wider than New Zealand legislators realise nr will admit. Tt is certainly costing New Zealand many families.

A farmer from South Australia, with 13 children, was on the last steamer outward, and is another example of (he host sort of asset Australia is losing. Here is another man turning his back on Australia, with plenty of money in his pockets, and wife and children abmil him. Tie is half-farmer, half-grazier, and was Die first; man, lie claims, to make cheese for the market in Queensland. He is of a linn type, rich in shrewdness and practical sense, and tells his tale with a frankness and humour altogether delightful. TTe had built up a lug and prosperous dairy : but when (he drought lay fierce on Queensland he had to import lucerne from Victoria to keei) his cows alive. The Pailway Department, instead of helping (ho appressed farmers, chose this exact moment for raising rates. As a result, the narrator goes on, "we all voted dead against Die Ph'lp Covernment at the general election: hut,” he adds, with a rueful sigh, ‘‘this put the balmur party into (lower, and meant for ns being out of the frying pan into the tire.” Parliament, (no, afflicted him with many irritations. There were {.'ovevnlmhnt; insixmlors who eattie to (each him the dairy business, and. were as innocent of it themselves as so many town-bred eld maids ; and he iiad to pay 3d per head for every cow he possessed for Die sake of supplying these inspectors with a salary (hey did not earn and a knowledge they did not possess. II was, he complains with rueful energy, a wasted 3d. Ho lie is leaving Australia lor bn year:.:, by which time ho reckons Dm coimhy will have been whipped hack into sane politic:, and it will he safe for Dio farmer with r. small capital to return. For those who are leaving Australia, .somehow, all ini end to come hack to it. Australia, (his man holds, is Dio finest country, with the finest climate, under heaven. His only afflicted with a mysterious disease known as ‘‘politics.” No one can talk with rite men lying on the fqrehaleh of the Manuka without seeing (hat what, may ho called Dm smaller capitalists are becoming uneasy in Australia, and are leaving it. There are other interest lug types amongst. Die third-class. Here is tin Eiurlishman who has spent three years Irving to grow maize in a rainless district in Queensland, and he has gained nothing by il but dengue fever, so bo is going back to bis native Surrey. Here is a young Victorian farmer from (Jippshnid, who is going round the World tbird-class purely Tr Die sake of seeing what there is in it. Beside him is a New South Welshman, with not many coins in his (locket, hut many trades at his finger ends -he is a printer, a farmer, _a dairyman, etc. A'nd he, 100, it simply going to have a look at Die world' outside Australia. 'The migratory impulse is nearly as visible on the forecastle of the Manuka as in its saloon.

IX SEARCH OE A 11. USD AX I). One odd figure in the group on (In fore.'halch is a girl, a merry-faced, rather comely young woman, who ex

f I plains, will) nnsofloned voice ami _ | eyes I lull dance wilh milih, Ihal she lis all alone. She has not got a t I husband, ami could mu gal one in I Australia, (hough she did liar best, (o effect ihal laudable object. So . sho is leaving a land whom possible husbands are so scanty, or, unlike 13;;rkis. are mil, ‘'willin’.” Her exjdanation ‘i‘s /offered coram jinblico, and is received with slmuls of laua,liter by all hearers; bnt, it, is genuine enough. And if a, young man emigrates in search of higher wages, why should not a young woman eniigiaie | to lands where lovers are mure abundant, and the prospects of nudrimoiiv more cheerful?

It is worth noting that the only Australasian who docs not apologise for himself is the Now Zealander. The New Zealanders in the saloon have a fine, robust, and even .aggressive, selfrespect. They are inclined to pity the Australian, who, for his part, has a half-conscious but inarticulate sense that his place just now is one that deserves a liltlo pity. Even those Mow Zealanders who are leaving (heir country so are a little hit inclined to look down upon (ho Australians. r l he Sfcw Zealanders, it may be added, diow a singular unanimity in their jailmate of Air Seddou. they are iropared to trade him off, on reduced pvius, to the Australians; and the; Australians are not indisposed to do ! msiness. Suppose that for 41n|se |

wo years during which Sir Edmund i ;avion dozed and yawned, and drift- j d as Prime Minister the strenuous; nd stentorian Mr Seddon had been | t tho head of the Commonwealth! j ho difference might have been worth i iiniojis to federated Australia,, j