GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2123, 4 July 1907, Page 1

GOVERNMENT CAUCUS.

THE SESSION’S LEGISLATION. PERSONNEL OF THE MINISTRY. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON,, last night. The Government party met in caucus this morning. The official report furnished to the press is as follows: Sir Joseph Ward congratulated the eauous on "the large attendance and thanked members one and all for the many kind expressions of welcome and ' good feeling shown to himself since his return to the colony. It was, ho went on to say, the first caucus called since he became head of the Government, and Ihe hoped they would have many future meetings with a view to discuss matters of general importance to the colony as a whole. He did not- propose to. discuss the details of any policy measures that the Government proposed to introduce to the House this session as that was not the constitutional course to follow. The proper course would lie adhered to in respect to that matter and he hoped that the party as a whole would be kept in close touch witli the Government upon the more important measures that required to be dealt with this session. LEGISLATION.

He indicated what measures Parliament would be asked to put through during the session and intimated that an alteration would be made in the graduated land tax and that an amended bill'd Bill would be brought down. There would also be a Native hand Bill ensuring the settlement of the great area of Native lands in the North Island and a Customs Tariff of a sensible nature in the interests of all classes, with a simplification of the" present system, would be put through. The all-impOrtant matter of the work of the Conciliation and Arbitration system would be amended to ensure the continuance of the benefits that- had been conferred upon both employers and workers since the system had been in operation. The-law would be made clear to ensure that the groat principle involved should be put into a. thoroughly practical position. The question of the uncertainty of the half holiday under'the Shop's Act would also be legislated upon so as' to prevent the undesirable state of things that now existed. A classification scliemo for the Civil Service as well as a superannuation 'scheme would also bo put through with the assistance of members. Sir Joseph Ward also referred to the fact that tile great developments in the matter of legislation which had taken place during the past fifteen years had enormously increased tho responsibilities put upon departments both old and now, and civil servants who had devoted a long lifo to the service of the colony were not able from various causes when they left the. sorvicc to turn their hands to other avenues of employment and to make provision for themselves, and their families in their old age. Ho also stated that amendments to the

Post and Telegraph Classification Act and tlic Railway Department Classification Act would be put through. Both those 'departments had expanded enormously in recent years and 4 what had been an excellent thing for* them under the old classification scheme in many aspects did not suit under the altered conditions which an expansion of business had brought about. Those were the' most important measures which the ltouse would be asked to put through. Ho also intended to submit a national endowment scheme, altered in some material aspects from the .Bill'circulated last session, under which it was proposed to submit a scheme to enable the public to ensure a reasonable provision being made for them in sickness and old age. THE HON. W. HALL-JONES. He expressed deep regret at the unavoidable absence of his friend and colleague, the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, who had been prevented by illness from taking liis usual place among them. No one could forecast whether the long rest that he was taking would restore him to a full measure of health, but he sincerely hoped that that would be the result. The three doctors who had examined him the. day before liis (Sir Joseph’s) arrival in New Zealand were hopeful that that would lie so. If, however, it should unhappily he otherwise, and his health should not be restored so that lie should be able to undertake bis great responsibilities, then, and then only, would he consider as to how the vacancy should be filled. In the meantime no one expected him to give any promise or any indication of wliat might qr might nqf be necessary in six months from now, SOME EXPLANATIONS.

Mr. Gray and Mr, Poole explained that they were present at the caucus as Independent Liberals, which was in keening with their election pledges, Sir Joseph said he quite understood their position, and he recognised that they were not supporters of the Opposition party, and consequently he was pleased to see them present. He also expressed pleasure at seeing Mr. J. C. Thomson, the member for Wallace, among them; He hoped with the co-operation of the party as a whole an d with the assistance of his colleagues to direct legislation in the general interests of the country. Sir Joseph 'Ward was frequently applauded, and after a number of members had expressed their views, the following resolution was unanimously carried: “That this caucus records its loyalty to you (Sir Joseph Ward) as leader, and to your Government and to Its general policy.”