THE POLITICAL POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 202, 26 August 1919, Page 5

THE POLITICAL POSITION.

CATTCTTS ON WEDNESDAY. SESSIONAL PREPARATIONS. (Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Pending Wednesday's caucus meetings, the political situation has not materially developed, but events are again likely to move fast at the end of the week. Reform j Ministers, though only six in number, have made good headway with sessional preparations. As Parliament meets un- | usually late, departmental statements and estimates have been waiting some time. Consequently the Premier could face the usual business of the session with the adoption of the Public Works and Consolidated Estimates without difficulty. j The immediate problem is Ministerial I reconstruction. It is understood that three members of the Reform Ministry j are quite willing to retire if party exigenj cies make this course desirable. Thus Mr. Massey will be able to meet Wed!l ncsduy'.s caucus with a good prospect of securing a satisfactory understanding. Under ordinary circumstances a short adjournment of the House would follow Cabinet reconstruction, but the legislative programme contains a number of urgent matters necessitating an attempt to proceed without delay. It is anticipated that thn Opposition is unlikely to force an early dissolution while business is to be done so urgent I that some bills must pass before the I Address-in-Rcply debate is completed. I Though not absolutely essential, the Government proposes to secure Parliament's ratification of the Peace Treaty. " THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. j The Governors speech, following wartime precedent, will be fairly short. It will contain references to measures dealing with post-war problems in which the j Government, despite its precarious nume- ; rical position, may anticipate support from a good majority of the House. There is legislation ready which would occupy two months of an ordinary session, but .Ministers, while prepared to face the business of the session, say they must also be prepared after the caucus to face tin- alternative of an early dissolution. Ml;. MASSEV CARRIES ON. Mr. Majeey admits that the wrtli- ; dr.iwal of tile Minister of Finance and his Liberal colleagues at the present J junctUTC will phir • an enormous amount jof unexpected work upon the remaining j Ministers, and occasion them some itl- | convenience, but he is not whining about tlie matter, and in not anticipating it I Mill entail any very -serious interruption rrf bitine.ss. The preparation of the • ISiidget is the big additional burden fallI in;; upon the shoulders of the Prime i Minkter, but thin can be left largely to ! t'lie heads of Departments if the new I occupant of the office is content to deal I with facts alone, and to leave, tho •■trmi-l I rningh" tor a later opportunity. Mr. i j Myers, the late Acting-Minister of; \ Finance, has published a wealth of in- j j formation during the absence of 'Ms j i chief, vhiclh in itself constitutes a. very I admirable review of the country's I linanceei. LIBERAL LEADER'S VIEW. . l Sir .losoph Ward warmly disavows any wish or intention to embarrass Mr. . MuKxoy and hi- i-olliagues by retiring from the Caliinct. He sincerely hopes j tie termination of the truce will fac;!i-| tate the hiitsinesß of tho approaching session, and hasten Mip -time when the J ele-tur.- will exercise the voice to which I'iicy are entitled in the .government or ! tin , country. The agreement between tho ]rartit'.s was to endure till the termination of the war—a much-desired I consummation which was reached on the ! Wiming of tilie Peaoe Treaty. To extend its term over the gent-Till election, as liis critics seemed to wish, -would be to flout the constitutional rights of the constituencies. ITRLIC OPINION. Public- opinion appears to be much divided on the whole question. So far as can be judged, a certain number of Reformer** who have been expressing themselves as well-dieposed towards Sir •Joseph Ward, -are now resuming their oH party, relations with Mr. Massey. On the other hand, progressive people Who were not over-favourably inclined towards Sir Joseph, hugely on account oi his association with the National Government, are now looking 'his way, -attracted no doubt by ithe thorougih-going radicalism of the programme ! he has put forth. Official Labour refuses to accept the declaration of his good intentions, saying that all lie in promising now ought to have been done a decade ago. But the great army of sane Labour is impressed, and at least will watch with much interest the further development of his proiKtsals. SPEECH BY LABOUR MEMBER. j (By Telegraph—Tress Association.! CHRISTCTIURCH, Monday. i A pro-sessional address was delivered by Mr. J. McCombs, M.P. (Labour), at : Lyttelton to-night. A great part of his j speech consisted of a strong attack upon Sir Joseph Ward, both in regard to his share in the administration of the Nai tional Government and his recently i issued manifesto. Mr. McCombs was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.