GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 684, 8 December 1909, Page 8

GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

LEASEHOLDERS BROUGHT INTO LJNE, . HOUSE TO CLOSE BT CHEISTMAS. According to a statement Which was given out by tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the caucus of the Government party yesterday was attended by all the members of tho party except Mr. Hogg and Mr. Luke. Sir Joseph continued:—"The position of the business in the House was stated to the party by me. I also pointed out tho courso that I thought it was desirable for the party ■ to adopt. It was agreed that the Land Bill should to the floor of tho House from tho Lands Committee,, and that'the block, so far as the Government party is concerned, should be discontinued. I indicated' the business that should be put through this session, and I expressed the opinion that we might bo able to finish our proceedings by December 22, and that Parliament should sit earlier than usual next year." :

In addition, the Prime Minister remarked, there was a general discussion upon, party matters, and the party unanimously expressed their hearty goodwill towards the head of the Government.

"Not Altogether Harmonious." . The-rfjaucus, which is described, as the "biggest" of Sir Joseph Ward's party yet held, was expected to occupy only about half an -hour, but it lasted over two hours. Members of the party are very reticent as to what occurred, but from what little can be gathered it seems that the proceedings were not altogether harmonious, as ono member afterwards admitted. It was uncertain at first how things were likely to go, and it seemed' as: if we would all be going home before the end of the week," thus indicating that the Government's proposals were not accepted without some show of fight. . A rumour that had got abroad to the effect that the Government was going.to submit an ultimatum of some land to the leasehold ■members of its party at the caucus caused tho result of the conclave to be looked for with eager interest. Whisperings of the possibility of a crisis in the fortunes of. the party, with a dissolution and an early general election as a sequel, were heard in more than one quarter. On. the other hand, however, it was predicted by political wiseacres that the disaffected members would be quite ready to agree to fall, in with a proposal for a tepiporary settlement of tho differences on.che land question sufficient to tide them over the session,,! and thus .avoid for the time being the necessity of going back to their constituents. This prediction was verified- by the official announcement of the. report of tho caucus.. Tho threatened'storm lias not burst; for how long the cloud has been dispelled time alone can Show. ... ;., '. . '..,.

Unofficial Accounts.

According to unofficial accounts as to what took place at the caucus, tho Tecent votes in which the Government were defeated were thoroughly discussed. The Prime. Minister declared that the Government members who Voted with the Opposition; must;surely have done so under a misapprehension! The votes, Jie said, placed the Government in an unfair, position. With regard to the land/proposals, there was a certain amount of recrimination 'between the leaseholders and the freeholders, and the quesparty loyalty was.raised. The Prime Minister -.remarked that it would appear that the leaseholders on the Government side were determined to block the passage of' the BilL Various members pointed out that no attempt had been made by the freeholders and leaseholders in the party to 'arrive at'a compromise. That a conrpromise could be.effected was their opinion. It was suggested that if the proposals affecting the renewable leases were eliminated the Bill would meot with general faybur wjth the Government party. Nothing of the nature of stone-walling, was likely to take place at the instance of Government members if those clauses were dropped. The matter of'a compromise .was-left l in-abeyance. • ■Will the Land Bill be Dropped? Opinion is divided as to whether the Land Bill will be' pushed on this '■ session.' - Questioned on the subject by Mr. Massey in the House-yesterday,' tho Prime Minister seemed to imply that it would, depend on whether business was in a forward-: state; 'Earlier in''.tho day, however,'anothbr prominent member on tho .Government, side declared that the. Bill could be.-, got -through all!?, right by'-a longthy continuous sitting. According to ; some of the older leaseholders in■;the *.Governmentparty, the test division obtained'' a£ r a" result' of Mr. MasseyV amendment last night does away with the necessity for a-further vote this> session- on the' land'proposals."- The opinion is gradually gaining ground that the Government'will-not press the; Bill this-year.