MEETING OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2263, 4 July 1881, Page 3

MEETING OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Wo take the following from Saturday’s “Post:”—A canons of Ministerial supporters was held in the Parliamentary Buildings this morning. The whole proceedings, which lusted upwards of two hours, are kept as profound a secret as it is possible for such proceedings to be kept. From what we can learn, there appears to have been an attendance of twenty-sir or twenty-eight members, including Messrs Dick (Colonial Secretary), Bolleston, Johnston (Fostmaster-Q-eneral), and Atkinson (Colonial Treasurer). The disorganised state of the Honse was talked over at considerable length, and several members pressed upon the party the necessity of sticking to their colors more closely than they had hitherto done. It is said Mr Wakefield made a long speech strongly urging this coarse. The question of the 20 per cent, grants out of the land fund to local bodies is said to have taken up a largo portion of the time of the meeting, several members strongly pressing for the 20 per cent, grant to be restored. Mr Wright, who has tabled a notice of motion calling for the appointment of a select committee “ to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbor Board in respect to its present and future relations to the pnblio creditor,” is stated to have said at the caucus that he would not forego his right to have that matter sifted to the bottom. It is reported that no resolution was come to upon any subject, but several of ihe party think the proceedings exceedingly satisfactory, and that what has taken place will tend to strengthen the hands of Government. The disorganisation of the party arose, they say, from the faot that they are too strong, and same of the headstrong ones cannot easily be kept, in hand.

[By Tblbqbabh.] [FEOM THB OWf OOBBEBPOITDBHT OF THE W Pjjggg ( WELLINGTON, July 3. Various unfounded rumors are afloat in the Opposition camp regarding yesterday’s Ministerial canons, one being that it was positively determined to restore the twenty per cent, of land fund to counties. This is incorrect, os nothing was resolved upon. What actually took place at the caucus is maintained as a strict secret, but it is understood that the main object of the meeting was to promote the consolidation of the party, improve its organisation and arrive at a general understanding as to matters which should bo deemed party questions, and on which members should agree to vote and act in concert j also, for the Government to explain to their supporters their intentions as to the various moot points of policy and political action, and to consult on certain matters about which some minor differences of opinion might be expected to exist. The result is stated by Ministerial members to have been satisfactory. Forty-six members were either present or accounted for, all of whom can, it is helieved, be absolutely depended upon to vote with their party in the event of a trial of strength on vital questions of policy. It is anticipated that the fruits of this consultation will be seen in improved organisation and discipline in the Ministerial camp, and that the Government will be in a position to go on speedily with the business of the country, without being hampered by any disaffection among their followers, such as has been produced in the past, by a feeling that the party is so strong that individual members can safely vote as they please, and act quite independently of party ties. There will, of course, be some exceptions, but not of importance.