POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 170, 27 June 1900, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

Hvernment caucus. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wkllikotoh, June 26. of the Government Party was held yesterday afternoon, and, as usual, an official report was supplied to the Press by the Senior Government Whip. This states that 47 members were present at the meeting, and eight others were accounted for, making the tpt#l strepgtfe of the party 55.

The Premier, who presided, congratulated the party upm having been ntarnedtothe House in such strength at the general election, and pointed out the necessity for organisation. He •bo urged the older members to assist those new to the House in making themselves acquainted with the details wnnected with the forms and procedure of Parliament.

A long letter was received from the J. stating that he resigned his portfolio, and giving the reason in full for hia doing so. Many sympathetic references were made to Mr. McKenzie's state of health, ' and the following resolution was carried wnanimensly:—" That the members of the Liberal Party send, their warmest regards to the Hon. John McKenzie, and dpeply deplore his continued lllpjpM. ip»ay v&animously desire that he should continue to hold his office aa a Minister of the Crown, and this meeting believes it would be a matter of satisfaction to a great majority of the people of the colony if he could see -hia way to re-consider his decision." A copy of this resolution is to be fcirtfaitl&l t»y tHe Premier to Mr, McA general discussion took place regarding the question of increasing the number of Ministers, It was pointed oat that new departments had come into existence since the present Government came into office,- and had been an increase in the work of Ministers. Eventually, the meeting agreed that it was desirable that there should be an increase in the number of

Ministers, go as to bring their strength to that existing prior to the reduc"tion is 1887. The question of appointing Parliamentary Under-Secretaries was also discussed.' The meeting expressed the opinion that the appointment of an additional to the Supreme Court was dejtirab.'e. " -»In exclusion, the official report iB fhat the meeting was a harmonious one.