POLITICAL NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4137, 27 August 1900, Page 7

POLITICAL NEWS

THE PREMIER AND HIS SUPPORTERS. The “Boxers” are well satisfied with tho result of their interview with the Premier on Friday evening, and are fully expecting that their arguments for a revision of the tariff proposals will have due weight with the Government. It now transpires that a counter-deputation of-Government members was also formed to wait on the 'Premier mfd to urge him to stand by his original proposals. Meeting Mr Scdjdou in tiio lobby, they put this position before him, and said that, in the jovenfc of the Government’s not agrec'•ing to make any concessions, the members forming the deputation, sixteen in number, would give him their solid support, while if any alterations were made there was a prospect of their forces being scattered. The Premier informed them that the matter was under consideration. It is expected that an official announcement of the changes proposed . will ho made on Wednesday. As a matter of fact, there is a very strong feeling in the minds of soinc'of tile more faithful supporters of the Government in regard .to the course pursued by the Premier in receiving deputations from a section of the party on subjects on which the whole of”the party has a right to bo consulted. The proper coarse to fob low, they argue, when there is discontent among the. Government members, is for a caucus to be held and for the question to be thoroughly threshed out. In such cases the ‘minority, has to bow to the will'of the majority, or else secede from the ranks of ’ the party, but by this new method the views of the minority only arc given, without tho majority being present or consulted, and it looks, too, as if the minority were about to rule. The result of the influence that has- been brought to bear, and the views of members upon it, will be awaited with considerable interest. . , ... ..