PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9021, 17 December 1914, Page 4

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

" THE ■GOVERNMENT WILL PLAY ■THE GAME." "POSITION NOT FULLY DECIDED YET." WELLINGTON, December. 17.'. - In reply to the statement triads by tho leader of the Opposition, the Prime, Minister, in an interview by a ''Post" reporter, said:—r! 'I cannot forgtfc > the action—or, rather, the inaction—of Sir Joseph 'Ward- and his party: after the last election, when tho country had de- i finitely declared against thfm. Parlia- j ment was not convened until—l speak j from memory—-about the third week of .J -February. I do not propose to follow any sucli example. There may. be other changes yet, but you can take it from j me that the Government will play the , game, and do tlio right -thing under the circumstances. Cabint-'t will meet at the earliest opportunity, to consider the new position that has arisen. "If we cannot cari-y on there is.certainly no other party in New Zealand at the present moment that can do so. The Reform-Party, is a united party,N while the Opposition consists of two sections which have practically nothing | in common except, perhaps, a desire to I punish tho Government for doing its | duty last session, ,'and, as a conse- ! quonce, to occupy the Treasury benches. "1 do not consider the position fully , decided yet, and there may be changes , where there are re-counts. "As for tho Northern Maori member, T can only say that J know "Mr Tan Henare well, and there is no better type of Maori member in Parliament. J have no doubt as to his attitude."