POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5337, 15 August 1895, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[FBOM OCR OWN CORBISrONDKNT.] WELLINGTON, August 15. THE LIBERAL CAUCUS. In addition to forty-fonr who were present at the Liberal caucus yesterday, there were six accounted for. A unanimous vote of confidence in the Ministry was passed, and the meeting declared itself satisfied with the verbal pledge that a free hand would be allowed to the Liberal party in committee on the tariff question, so long ao the Government finance was kept strong. PARTY TACTICB. Among independent members and others able to form an impartial judgment, the opinion prevails that the Opposition party, made a palpable hit in yesterday's proceedings—not through any particular smartness in the methods employed, but rather because of tactical blundering on the part of the Government. The mistake lay in declaring that business could not proceed while Captain Russell's motion remained on the Order Paper, and then receding from the position when the leader of the Opposition declined to have his hand forced. Though every one here knows perfectly well that the modifications in the Tariff proposals were a concession to the opinion of a majority of the Government supporters, it may not be I easy to convince the country at large that these modifications were not the direct | result of Opposition tactics. The contrast presented in the House last night between the wild jubilation of the Oppositionists and the dejected appearance of the Ministerialists, proved that the House itself accepted this view of the situation. The Premier has, however, Bhown great astuteness in making the incident a means of hardening the Government Party, and making its victory certain in the pending attack on the tariff proposals. BANE OF NBW ZEALAND. The statutory half-yearly meeting of the Bank of New Zealand has been called for Friday, August 30. This will allow ample time for the Estates Company Committee to report, and for the debate to take place in the House prior to the meeting of the bank's shareholders. AGBICTJLTDBAL CONFERENCE. The Parliamentary Committee in connection with the coming Agricultural Conference met this morning, when there were present Messrs Buchanan, Stevens and Buddo (M.H.R.'s), Ritchie (Stock Department), Nathan (Wellington), and Orbell (Geraldine). Some discussion took place on the subjects of the combination of frozen meat companies in the colony anil measures for the proper distribution of meat in the United Kingdom. The committee then adjourned till thiß evening, when resolutions will be drafted for the conference on these subjects.