YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S PROCEEDINGS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 28 August 1919, Page 5

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S PROCEEDINGS.

FORECAST OF THE TREND OF EVENTS.

(By Telegraph—Special to Star.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. Afc tflie Reform caucus the progressive section appears to have obtained a fair amount of satisfaction. It was sufficiently formidable and compact to se*rJlre. tbe Premier's acceptance of the chief demand that the Ministerial vacancies shall be tilled by a ballot of the party. Mr Massey, however, maintained the Premier's right to veto any nomination. It i s understood that he has three Ministers' resignations at his disposal if the exigencies of the party require this course to be taken. ' The caucus failed to complete consideration of its future plans, and will resume on Friday night.

Ihe Liberals were minus Messrs Russell and Hanan, ex-Ministers, and also Air Hornsby, who appears to lave definitely left the Wardist camp. However Mr X jgor Brown, after three years' abSe"rSf trom caucus, reappeared. The most important point discussed on all sides is the probability of ay early motion of no-confidencer Whilst the Liberals prefer to have essential war legislation cleared up and consequently are prepared to assist the Government in a strictly limited programme oi this character, it was thought that the Labor group would force the pace ™- even extremists are beginning: to be moderate in their wrecking ambition as, m yew of the Liberal tendency' they risk the anticlimax of only half a ! dozen supporting any ill-t^ed chal-J ienge.

The prospects are that the session mil continue on normal lines' for at least a month.