RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.
SEARCHING FOR A POLICY. (From Oue Own Coerespondent.) WELLINGTON, August 23. The Government is evidently very much perturbed in regard to the land question — so much so in fact that the matter was cteemed to bs of sufficient urgency to warrant the holding of a caucus ro consider it. The caucus was held to-day, and, whilst considerable reticence is observed in regard' to the proceedings, it is stated that tho party is very much divided on the allimportant question of freehold and leaseho'd. The official report of the caucus states that it was unanimously agreed to support the proposals of which the Premier gave notice this afternoon, but it appears that on the main question there was great divergence of opinion. A considerable majority, it is said, expressed a preference for the freehold tenure, some going so far as to extend their advocacy of this principle to the present lease in perpetuity leases. Other Government supporters, on the other hand, loudly condemn the alienation of the freehold of any Crown lands. It is___§tated that it was agreed to give members of the party a free hand in voting on the question when it comes before the House. Thirty-eight members attended the caucus, and six others arc said to have been accounted for. Among those present were Messrs Hogg and Barber, who have evidently forsaken the New Liberal party and oome to heel again. On the other hand, there has been some comment on the absence from the caucus of such Government supporters as Messrs Arnold, Remington, EII, and Tanner. The long, wordy motion of which the Premier gave notice to-day is generally regarded on the Opposition side of the House as a weak attempt; to shuffle out of the responsibility of taking a determined stand on the question. As one member put it to me to-night, the motion, boiled down, simply means — " That this House do resolve itself into Committee of the Whole for the purpose of discovering a land policy for the
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Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 11
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338RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 11
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