THE LAND QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 34

THE LAND QUESTION.

THE GOVERNMENT IN A

QUANDARY.

PROBABLE HOSTILE AMENDMENT.

(FftOii Oue Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 24.

The land- question is once more the dominant factor in New Zealand politics, and for tbe next fortnight or so it is sure to engage a great deal of the attention of members and of the country generally. Now that Mr Seddon's somewhat extraordinary motion has been more or less digested, various comments, more or less uncomplimentary, may be heard regarding it. Some of the Government supporters profess to regard it as a clever tactical move, others are not so sure about it; while tbe Opposition regards it as laughable and ludicrous in the extreme. One member, on reading it over, promptly suggested that a shilling subscription should be got up among the Government supporters for the purpose of draping the | John M'Kenzie Cairn in crape, while anI other suggested that the New Zealand flag \ should bs. flown upside -down from the ! same memorial as a signal cf political dis- ; tress. It appears that before yesterday's caucus , the chief members of the Government party had been consulted about the series of motions submitted by the Premier, and that portion of the Premier's document resulted from suggestions from some of the rank and file Yesterday I referred to the absence of Messrs Arnold, Ell, and Remington from j the caucus. Their absence has led to the conclusion that a further disintegration of Mr Ssddon's party is taking place. Mr Laurenson, of course, was not invited to the caucus. Ever since the S«ddon-Taylor slander ease, and more especially since the formation of the New Liberal party, Mr LaureiiMra has not been a persona grata with tihe Government, and this is the first time for years that he has not been invited to a Government caucus. Mr Arnold absented himself for what he described as good reasons, and he does not intend to ! be present at any more of the Government | caucuses this present session. Mr Reming- i ton aiso declined to attend the caucus, | although pressed by t.be Government Whip . to do so evea while the caucus was in pro- j gress. Mr M'Laohlan, the member for Ashburton, left the caucus apparently in disgust at its tameness. Mr Ell's reason for not being present is that he got an envelope, but only an empty one. There was no caucus card inside it. As an apology followed promptly, Mr Ell was not offended It is the Premier's desire that the motions shall be debated seriatim by the House in committee, but it is practically oertalin that' a hostile amendment, in the ' nature of a wanfa-of-eonfidenee motion, wil! ' be moved by the Leader cf the Opposi- • tion. As there will be a good deal of talk on such an amendment, and when it is defeated a, good deal of further debate on each section of the motion, a good fortnight's discu«sion is already in sight, and all hopes of a short session are at an end. STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. The Leader of the Opposition, on being seen, declined to indicate^ the course which he would take in respeefc to the proposal or to criticise the clauses in detail. " £ can only say at present." said Mr Massey, " that tho way in which the proposals are being brought before Parliament clearly indicates that Mr Seddon is afraid to face the question in the manner in which a statesman and the leader of a party should faoe it. Instead of setting out a. defined policy dearly and boldly, he brings down a series of alternative proposals, and says to the House: 'Here, take these and formulate a policy for me; I cannot do it. The effect of this course will be to shelve tie question for another year, just as it was shelved last year by the setting up cf the commission. The Premier knows there is very little chance of such a bill as he indicar-es being passed this session." " What will be your own attitude on the matter?'' „ ". Tn3t»" said Mr Massey. with a smile, will be seen later on. but you may say that en far as I am concerned I do not intend to et the matter rest, no matter how many sessions it may take, until every settler holding Crown lands under the lease-in-perpetuity form of tenure is given the option of acquiring the freehold. That is my policy; lei the Premier show we his." VIKWS OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS. The feeling of contempt regarding the Premier's proposals is shared by not a few of the Government supporters, especially thof.9 who l'epresent town constituencies, and who are not hamuered by such a difficulty in voting on a direct issue as some of their country confreres. Many of the latter on the other hand, regard the Premier's move, as one which is especially .Suited to their own particular oase. as affording them at all events a temporary ni-eans of escape from the wrath of their constituents.