Parliamentary Notes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5092, 28 August 1884, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

THE CAUCUS MEETINGS OF YESTERDAY. ,ACTION OF THE GREYITES. THE CANTERBURY QUARTETTE IN THE OPPOSITION.

[from our special correspondent.l WELLINGTON, August 27. Two caucuses filled the afternoon with uncommon interest. They were the caucuses of the Greyite and Atkinsonian parties. Before they met it was finally understood on all sides that any kind of general combination was impossible. The Canterbury members insisted on Sir Julius Vogel, and the Opposition would not have Sir Julius at any price. Mr Stout, on behalf of his colleagues and the whole party, refused at the same time to accept any arrangement that did not give him the nomination of four seats in the Cabinet with portfolios, and one Upper House member without portfolio. These things prevented any combination at all. It came to pass thus that the Opposition was left to stew in its own juice. The Greyites, who held the key to the situation, held their caucus (at two o'clock) first. There were present — Sir George Grey, Messrs Thomson, Cadman, Dargaville, Smith, Joyce, Guinness, Reese, O'Connor, Menteath, Hatch, Thompson, Tole and one other whose name I have failed to ascertain. In conversation it was generally accepted that the imposition of a Land tax is the chief point oh which the party is agreed. It was, however, generally agreed that this imposition of a Land tax at the present time is, considering the state of parties, impossible, and that therefore the party should not use this question for. the purpose of disorganising the Government of the country. The meeting further agreed that its members would see what sort of a Government Major Atkinson would form, and would be inclined, if they thought well of it, to give it a fair trial. This result having been committed to some of the members present for communication to the Opposition caucus, the meeting broke up. The Opposition caucus at 2.30 was attended by forty-eight members, and three absent were represented, making in all fiftyone accounted for. They were: From Auckland — Messrs- Buekland, Cadman, Dargaville," Hamlin, Hobbs, Hurst, Lake, Locke, Mitchelson, Moat, Moss, Peacock, Thompson, Tole, Whyte ; absentees, Sir G. Grey and Colonel Fraser; from Taranaki — Major Atkinson and Colonel Trimble ; from Hawke's Bay — Mr W. Smith and Captain Russell; from Wellington — Messrs Beetham, Bryce, Bruce, Buchanan, Fitzherbert, Johnston, Macarthui. Newman and Wilson ; from Nelson — Messrs Hursthouse, Levestam, O'Connor, and Shephard ; from Marlborough — Messrs Dodson (absentee), and Conolly; from Canterbury — Messrs Grigg, Reese, Rolleston and Wakefield ; from Otago — Messrs Cowan, Fulton, Gillies, Hatch, Hirst, Joyce, Pyke, Richardson, Ross and Thomson ; Maoris — Messrs Hakuene and Te Ao. The Ministers present stated that they, none of them, had any desire or intention of taking office again. After the result of the Greyite caucus had beeu communicated, a, jj. oaGra i discussion took piace, Hi which the general feeling seemed to be that the selection of Ministers should be largely confined to new men. Mr Pyke then moved, Mr Hatch seconding—- " That Major Atkinson be requested to immediately proceed with the formation of a Ministry," and the motion was carried. Mr Gillies dissented in a way, stating that he could not see how he could support an Atkinson Ministry, as ho had been returned pledged to oust Major Atkinson from office. That, I have since heard, is the feeling of several other members who were present and remembered their election pledges — among them, I hear, Mr Grigg, of Wakanui. Mr Ormond was not present (being at home in Hawke's Bay), and was not represented. When he was here his platform was the abolition of the Property tax and the substitution of a Land tax and an Income tax. He voted against the Government because it did not propose to go so far as the imposition of an Income tax. Since then he is said to have ascertained for himself that 60 members are in favour of the Property tax, and to have made up his mind, in consequence, that the abolition of this tax is outside the range of practical politics. After the caucus, which broke up on the passing of the resolution, lists of Ministries, as usual, flew about, and people went so far as to say the new Ministry had been sworn in. Some even advanced the assertion that they had taken possession of the offices. The only thing certainly known throughout the afternoon was that Major Atkinson was veiy busy, according to the terms of the resolution, " proceeding " with the formation of a Ministry. Later. You will see from the report of the Press Association the purport of Major Atkinson's short announcement to the House this evening. Various rumours are flying about as to the Ministry he will introduce to the House to-morrow, when he makes his further statement. The set of names which seems to be mo.t in favour is the following : — Major Atkinson himself, Hon G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.C, Messrs Mitchelson, Wakefield, Fulton, Hursthouse, and Captain Russell. The Hon George M'Lean is also spoken of as a -probable member in place of Mr Waterhouse. I hear it whispered that if Mr Ormond accepts a portfolio, it will be that of Colonial Treasurer. I have only to add that his friends still accept his assurance of nolo episcopari. The Hon George M'Lean, I hear, has intimated that the state of his health pre vents his accepting office except without portfolio.