CAUCUS OF GOVERNMENT PARTY

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 535, 1 October 1902, Page 3

CAUCUS OF GOVERNMENT PARTY

GENERAL CONGRATULATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. At a caucus of the Government party to day, Sir Joseph Ward, on behalf of the party, expressed regret at the retirement of Mr Carncross, Government whip, arid stated that during the tiino that gentleman had been in Parliament ho had riot only made lasting friends on his own side of tho House, but had commanded the respect and confidence of thoso opposed to him. Several other members endorsed these sentiments.

Air Carncross expressed keen regret at the severance of ties which had been so pleasant to him. Tho Acting Premier brought up the question of New Zealand being represented at tho South African Exhibition, and tho caucus strongly expressed the opinion that the colony should be represented there.

Major Steward, as the-oldest member of the party, expressed his congratulations to tho Acting-Premier for the way in which lie had conducted tho business of tlio session, and also paid a high complimont to tho Minister for Public Works and Native Minister for the valuable work they imd dono, remarks which were generally endorsed by tho party. The Acting-Premier referred to tho financial position of the colony, and gave the party assurance that all tho requirements of the colony were provided for for some time to come. He also expressed the opinion that a considerable portion of the last loan should bo floated in the colony, and congratulated tho members on the fact that wo aro to a very largo oxtent independent of tho London money market. Sir Joseph also reforred to tho question of tho Midland Railway debenture holders, and said that it was possible that this session a proposal would be submitted to Parliament to enable a settlement to bo carried out which would be aliko satisfactory to the debenture holders and bonorablo to the colony.

THE CORONATION CONTINGENT,

ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED.

(Spdcial to Times.) Wellington, last night.

When tho Chairman of tho Public Accounts Committee reported that tho Committee had no recommendation to make in a dispute between the Auditor-General and tho Treasury with reference to the paymont of a £3OOO draft to Major Pilcher, in South Africa, on account of expenses in connection with tho Coronation Contingent, Mr Allen (Bruco) said that £IO,OOO had boon taken by tho Government out of unauthorised expondituro for expenses in connection with the sending of this contingent to England. The colony’s auditor in London had cabled out asking tho Auditor-General if the draft was likely to bo honorod, and on Mr Warburton sending a eablo down to the Treasury to bo transmitted to London that cable had been stopped in tho colony, and put in tho pigeon holes of the Treasury. The Auditor and Controller-General had authorised no expenditure in connection with tho Coronation Contingent. He thought the House should havo; been given an opportunity of saying whether they would send a contingent or not to London. The sum of £IO,OOO would not cover all the expenses, and he thought Parliament would have to hositate before it incurred such a heavy expense in connection with the contingent. The amount had been wrongly authorised. Sir Joseph Ward maintained that tho Government were authorised in sonding the contingent, and that if tho matter had been put to a vote of the pooplo of the colony they would have been unanimous in sending the contingent.