THE 'GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11645, 24 August 1905, Page 6

THE 'GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

"(From .Our parliamentary .Special). - {By Telegraph.)

WELLINGTON, August 23.

The Government caucus which was held yesterday was a brief and orderly gathering, so much so indeed that the member for Ashburton, who is nothing if not aggressive, after sleeping through its earlier stages, ultimately abandoned it in disgust at its taineness. The caucus was practically unanimous in accepting the series of resolutions submitted" by the Premier,.but this was not to be wondered at, inasmuch as the chief members of the Party had been previously consulted concerning them, and indeed the 'resolution submitted . embodied some suggestions initiated from the ranks ~of the Party. There was no discussion aS'to the advisability of- the Government Party sitting tight" arid not debating the resolutions, and the party will approacE them with, an absolutely free hand so far, as their discussion is concerned. The resolution's will, of course, ultimately be embodied in a Bill, but there is a shrewd suspicion that the measure, -whatever it is, will not sec the Statute Book this session.

There ia some snggestion that the first sign of a disintegration of the Party is to be found ill the fact that Messrs Arnold, Ell, Laurenson, and Remington', 'who' were -all within the precincts of the House, were' not present at the caucus. In the case of Mr Laurenson, his direct association with the' New Liberal -Party was, of coiiTse, responsible for his being dropped, and for the first time for many sessions he was not bidden to the " gathering of the Governmental caucus. In the case of Mr Arnold, the member for Duhedin purposely absented himself for what he personally described as "good reasons," and it is his expressed 'intention not to attend any further caucuses of the Party this session. So far as Mr Remington is concerned, he also declined to attend, although pressed by the 'Government Whip to do so even while the caucus was in progress. His attitude on the freehold question, it is supposed, was primarily responsible for his abstaining from taking part in the proceedings. Mr Ell was the victim of circumstances, for by some unfortunate oversight he was forwarded an empty envelope instead 'of a caucus card of invitation, and as an apology ( promptly followed, his absence may be regarded as quite without significance. The tabling of the resolutions is considered on all sides to be another of those pieces of sterling diplomacy of which the Premier ia continually "guilty." He is' regarded as having cut a good deal of ground from under the feet of the. Opposition, and to have made the moving of a direct vote of no-confidence on th© resolutions impossible. As one member puts it, "There are puddings for some, and pies for others, and cakes for those who don't take either," and this attitude wa3 significantly illustrated by Sir William Russell, who interjected when the Maori Councils resolution was read, ' "That's mine." ' The resolutions,' it is understood, will be debated seriatim, and those that are adopted by the House will ultimately, bo embodied in the Bill to be brought down. There will' be' some difficulty attaching to this' course, for whilst approving of the resolutions as a whole, there are some among them upon which even the Government Party cannot see eye txv eye,' more especially wheri'election pledges are taken into account". This 'apart, the Premier is regarded as having once more found tlio most accessible exit from what had been regarded as a political cul de sac.