GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 356, 3 August 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OPPOSITION C A CCDS. ; ; [By Telegraph.] {From a correspondent ytfthe Press .) - ' ' Wellington, August 2, The Opposition caucus to day was "attended by twenty-five members; five others sent letters of sympathy with the proposed action. Sir George Grey was elected leader of the Opposition. He will propose to the Government to agree to the second reading of the measure and pass what supplies are needed if the abolition measure is not pushed ■further.: He wifi admit• that there is an overwhelming majority in favour of abolition, but many members will not pledge themselves to the present Bill, If the Government decline the proposal, the Opposition will speak against time, &c, hoping so to force the Government to a dissolution. At a caucus of the Auckland members this afternoon, Sir George Grey, Messrs Wood, •Sheehan, and Creighton were appointed a committee to enquire into the financial position of the province as affected by the Government .proposals'; into the claims of f thei province against the General Government, especially .on account of-railways and the smalluess.of.the proportion of Customs paid to the province as compared with what is received. , The Westland members waited on the Hon B. Richardson to-day re necessary works in that district... Mr Richardson gave them no hope, saying it would take all the colony’s means and energies to finiih the Works on hand and authorised. The fight commences in earnest to-mof-row. The Tribune says—“ The people have so strongly declared for abolition, that delay will only add to the Government’s strength. The measures must be forced to a conclusion. Let the Opposition defeat them if they can.” {From a correspondent of the Press.) At the Opposition Caucus to-day the members present were—Messrs Brandon, J. C. Brown, Bunny, Curtis, Dignan* Fitzberbert, Sir George Grey, Macandrew, Montgomery, O’Rorke, Murray,' Rieid, Reeves, Rplleston, Swanson, Takamoana, Sheehan, Thomson, VonderHyde, Ward, and Wood. ~ Mr Curtis stated the Abolition Bill suited him .and he left, avowing his intention to support it. The remainder discussed the subject at great length, expressing their determination : to oppose the Abolition Bill by every possible means this session, or till the, country was appealed to on the subject. They unanimously elected Sir George Grey leader and he accepted the position. It was resolved to oppose any progress with the estimates till further information was given on finance,' and till the native, public works, and other Ministerial statements are made. The heads of a distinct policy were also agreed on, and will be announced formally by Sir George Grey to-morrow on the motion for going into supply. This policy will probably include the consolidation of the provinces into two in each idand, considerable simplification in the provincial machinery, enlarged powers to local administrative bodies, and reform in the constitution of the Upper House. The Opposition calculate they will number at least thirty. Messrs Hunter, Harrison, White, and several others known to be with them, not being present to-day, while they calculate on at least ten of the ordinary Government supporters refusing to support the Abolition Bill beyond the second reading. The contest will certainly be a long and verybitter one. Every possible Parliamentary, expedient will be resorted to to force an appeal to the country ; and the Opposition declare that if this be conceded, and the country deliberately declares in favor of the Government policy, they will withdraw all further opposition, and aid loyally in making thu measure as perfect as possible. To avoid responsibility hereafter they however insist on the sense of the country being taken. Offers of appointment by the General Government to administer the affairs of their provincial districts under the new Bills have already been indirectly made to the leading members of the Provincial party. The Opposition say Mr Curtis has secured the position for Nelson. The further immigration correspondence received by to-day’s mail from the Agent General’s department is said to be very mild and merely routine. Another meeting of the Auckland members only, convened by Sir George Grey, was also held to consider the claims of that province, and a committee was appointed to investigate the matter, especially in relation to the North Island land purchase expenditure. <■