PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6887, 24 June 1890, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

■»■ ■ . — Opposition Caucus. ("FBOM OUB OWN COEEESPONDKNT.] WELLINGTON, June 24. The Opposition caucus was held at noor to-day, Mr Ballance in the chair. Th< following members were present : — - Dj Fitchett, Messrs Fraser, Hutchinson Grimmond, Joyce, Kelly, Lance, Ballance Blake, Buxton, Cadman, Feldwick, Fisher J. M'Kenzie, Moss, E. H. Eeeves, W. P, Beeves, Eichardson, Seddon, Steward. Smith, Taiwhanga, Turnbull, Verrall and Walker. After a lengthy discussion on the situation, it was resolved by acclamation that the administration of the Government had been such as to require full debate and i severe condemnation. The opinion waß also generally expressed that the Government was greatly to blame for bringing the House together at all, seeing that the Ministers had neither a policy, a party, nor an effective leader. The Ministers should, therefore, have dissolved, and enabled the country to shuffle the whole political pack afresh. It appeared to be thought by mo3t of those present that the rumours, carefully put into circulation, relative to Sir Dillon Bell retiring, in order to give up the AgentGeneralship to Sir Harry Atkinson, were mere canards sent about to puzzle the Opposition and get them to delay taking action. Then the rumoured appointment of Major Campbell to the Upper House was talked over, and the conclusion come to that Government ought not to be allowed to provide for political friends and supporters, and so smooth tho way for -the electoral campaign. The meeting, generally speaking, was cordial and unanimous in the views expressed. From the spirit shown, there seems every likelihood that the session, if short, will be lively and vigorous. The Opposition will not, as a party, support Sir G. Grey's motion for an immediate dissolution, as several members think that since the House has met and the expense of a session been incurred by the Colony, the members should not go home without doing some work.The folio tying were the expressions of opinion unanimously agreed upon by the caucus:— -(1) That the Address-in-Eeply should be fairly debated, but that there should be no waste of time ; (2) that an appeal to the country is desirable at the earliest possible moment ; (3) that no appointments should be made to the Legislative Council until after the new Parliament has assembled.