FUTURE ASSURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 11, 14 January 1929, Page 5

FUTURE ASSURED.

UNITED PARTY CONFIDENCE. MAGIC TOUCH OF LIBERALS. MR. STALLWORTHY'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Confidence in the security of the Ward Government »a« exprei-scd by the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Mallworthy) in the course of an interview.

"Only a Liberal administration has the magic touch essential to preserve the economic well-being," he "There is a subtle connection between the United party and prosperity, and there is no doubt that throughout the whole Dominion a new spirit of optimism and a returning confidence is vapidly developing."

Cabinet was meeting on January 17. but Mr. Stallworihy said he did* not care to express an opinion on policy. It was passible that there might lie a short session soon, but it was more likely that Parliament would meet in the ordinary way in June. "We have agreed among ourselves that any important information of policy should be expressed only by the leader," he said. "We work as a team and do not care to express facts that may lead to a. divergence of opinion." Asked what was the likelihood of the present Government continuing in office, the Minister said that while he did not care to go fully into the matter he would say that the United party held the balance of power in Parliament. "It is unlikely that there will be a new election in the near future," he said. "While, of course, we do not wish for another election we are prepared for it, and are confident that we would be returned with a good working majority. We have the confidence of the people, and would gain by a new election.' .

Discussing the position in the House. Mr. Stalhvorthy said that the Government had little to fear. Usually when a minority party was in power ii ruled only through favour of the other parties, and its policy was often subservient to that of one or other of the other parties. But the United party was in the *tron~ position of having had the expression of confidence cf the people in its new policy. They prepared a projrramme which, when presented to the country, was endorsed. As long as they conscientiously and honestly endeavoured to carry out and enforce that projrramme they should not be prejudiced by either of the other parties in the * House. Neither Labour nor Reform would dare vote against the Government on a policy which was part of the programme it submitted to the country. To defeat them an alliance of Reform and Labour would be necessary, and this was as improbable as it would be distasteful to both parties.

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), he said, was in good health and standing up to the strain of his duties in a wonderful manner.