Ministerial Caucus.

Hastings Standard, Issue 291, 7 April 1897, Page 3

Ministerial Caucus.

OPPOSITION TO THE CONTINGENT'S VISIT. [By Telegraph.] (From Our Sjiri iul < 'nrrrx[i<jn<lcnt.) Wellington, This Day. A Ministerial canons was held last night, and was attended by 44 members. The object in calling the meeting was for the purpose of ascertaining the views of members on the proposal to send troops to England. It was pointed out that the invitation to send a mounted force to England came from the Secretary of State, and did not originate from the Government. Some objection was raised to the troops' expenditure, and a show of hands being called for thirteen signified their dissent to the proposal. The malcontents are: Messrs Taylor, Smith, O'Eegan. Montgomery, Joyce, O'Meara, Pirani, Tanner, Meredith, Graham, Flatman, Hogg, and R. McKenzie. The Premier said the cost of sending the contingent Home would be £4OOO, of which £9OO had already been incurred (this sum covering uniforms, accoutrements, and passages). The men were not to be paid, but had volunteered their services, and the Government had offers from 250 men willing to go at the terms.

Mr Seddon wanted the caucus to agree to grant supplies till the end of October, but the meeting would not consent to supply beyond October 14, and this the Premier eventually assented to, giving the assurance that Parliament should again be called together not later than the last week in September. The Government claim that in the event of a no-contidence vote being tabled they can count on an absolute majority of eight.