CARRYING ON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1925, Page 6

CARRYING ON.

REFORM PARTY LEADERSHIP. COALITION NOT CONSIDEBED. RECONSTRUCTING THE MINISTRY. (By Telegraph.—Special to. "Star.") WELLINGTON, thi 3 day. "The King is dead, long live th» King:'' The Government must go on under any circumstances, therefore, the first duty after the late Prime Minister is laid' to rest is to constitute a ministry which will carry on the country's work. An official gazette will be issued late ott Friday night announcing that his Excellence- the Governor-denoral confirms th* appointment as members of the Executive Council the Ministers who held office under the recent regime.. A separate proclamation will confirm the appointment of Sir Francis Bell as Prime Minister, and other Ministers in their respective offices. This will be a. temporary expedient. Reform members will probably meet without delay to consider the leadership.

Two proposals have been canvassed. One is that Sir Francis Bell should continue as Frime Minister until the session begins, with a view to giving the Hon. Downie Stewart an opportunity of being personally consulted regarding his acceptance of the office of Prime Minister. The alternative, which is more likely to bo the course followed, is that the party will elect a leader, and give him an opportunity of constituting his Cabinet in ample time to meet Parliament after the coming by-election. Northern opinion strongly inclines to the belief that Mr. Downie Stewart's health not being sufficiently robust to enable him to meet the heavy responsibilities of the leadership, it must fall to the Hon. J. G. C'oates. The latter is reported to be quite ready to fall in with the arrangement first outlined, but the opinions of a party caucus, however, wonld strongly influence him. Therefore, the probable result is the reconstruction of the Ministry tinder the leadership of the Hon. J. G. Coates. The Coalition Prospect. Coalition under present conditions is more favoured in the country than in the lobbies of Parliament. It would be the duty of the Government forces to make the first move, and nothing of the kind has taken place despite much discussion outside. The general feeling of Reform parliamentarians is that, under capable leadership, they can evolve a policy, advocate it vigorously, and go to the country with fair prospects of becoming independent of unpledged supporters in the next Parliament. Nothing short of defeat at the next election and a prospect of Labour being in power, unless all opposing elements coalesce, would bring about Coalition. The idea was not born of present day conditions

ot narrow-majorities; it was discussed when Sir Joseph Ward and the Liberals enjoyed a good majority. The party in power then regarded any such suggestions as a joke, "the wish being father to the thought." Things were more propitious for this ideal in 1911, when it was seriously put forward by a leading Reformer outside Parliament. Mr. William Nelson. Rumours were flung around the House of Representatives, and Sir Joseph Ward had to deny several allegations, including one that he had offered Mr. Massey a seat In his Cabinet. This discussion caused Mr. Nelson to write to Sir Joseph Ward, showingthat he (Mr. Nelsonl was the author of the plan, which he had put up to a pronounced Reformer, who replied as follows: "How can we? Sir Joseph Ward has made no advances to us." "I replied." continued the letter, "howis likely to when he is top dog?" Mr. Nelson concluded with an assuranca that Mr. Massey, then leader of the Opposition, would not even discuss his proposal. To-day's conditions are different. The dominant party has no effective majority, but an appeal to the country presents a prospect it would preler to Coalition. Caucus Next Week. Beyond confirming in office Sir Francis Bell as Prime Minister and -Mir,ister ot Finance, and other Ministers in their respective portfolios, no constitutional developments will take place this week. It is expected that in about a fortnight s time members of the Reform party will meet in Wellington to discuss the leadership. If, as iß e pro . bable. they decide not to await Mr. Down.c Stewart's return from America atter the session has commenced, a leader will be appointed. Sir Francis Bell and Cabinet will resign. and ]lis Excellency will be recommended to send for the choice of the caucus.