POLITICAL NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Tactics of the Opposition.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1555, 22 June 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENTS.] Tactics of the Opposition.

Wellington, Last Night. The combined caucus referred to in my last took place this forenoon. Great care was taken to prevent any report getting into circulation, except an authorised version supplied by the chairman of the meeting. The statement, according to that authority, is that there were 25 present, and that 16 men were accounted for. That makes a total of 41. Assuming that statement to be correct, the Government have then a majority of four or five, which is certainly a .narrow one, considering that it is a mere preliminary estimate. To arrive at a more reliable estimate it is necessary to keep in view that a large proportion of those present are what is known as " independent" men, presumably in search of data upon which to found a fixed belief, and many of those are just as likely to go with the Government as with the Opposition when the tug of war comes. Then, again j we ate told by the same authority that conjoined action on the pait of the Opposition sections has been decided upon. There is an ominous silence as to who is to lead. The object, evidently, is to keep that point in abeyance as long as possible. There are two Riclunouds in the field, viz.: Sir G. Grey and Mr Montgomery. The latter does not seem at all disposed to gi\e way, and he has an ascei tamed following who will not on any account go in with brey as leader. Sir G. Grey, on the other hand, professes to be passive ; at the same time he never misses an opportunity of showing that, whether acknowledged or not, he is to all intents aud purposes leader. Before the final adjustment of this question, as adjusted it must be before any well directed, concentrated effort can be made, a defection is bound to take place from the Opposition ranks, so that one may reasonably conclude the above does not by any m-mns represent the effective force with which the Opposition will be enabled to take the field. In the&e circumstances, one may readily conclude that the position of Government remains pretty well assured. Outside the authorised report I am told the policy of the Opposition will be to foice down the entire policy at as early a date as possible, and that in the meantime they will avoid discussion on any question of the kind until the whole policy is before them. Once in possession of the policy a dreadful onslaught is threatened, and an entirely new policy will be proposed. What that new policy will be is not stated, but we may fully conclude a progressive land tax, and an entirely new system of local government and charitable aid will be the leading features of the scheme. The&e are the pioposals, and, as I think, the prospects of the session. The Opposition profess to bo very confident ot success.

The Estimates. The Hoube went very smoothly on Tuesday afternoon into the Estimates. A show of economy was exhibited, but no saving of the loast importance was effected. A heavy stand was marie against a di&paiity between the incomes oi certain registrars. There was very little in the object beyond the opportunity it afforded for a stock debate.

A Raglan Petition. The mom bur tor Waipa has presented a petition from Mr Oldham and another, Raglan, praying for compensation for loss sustained by the Waikato war. It was sent to the Public Petitions Committee.