POLITICAL ITEMS

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15335, 20 July 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL ITEMS

— ♦ THE COALITION" PROPOSAL. - . MORE FAVOURABLE OUTLOOK. (special to "the PRESS.") ' WELLINGTON, July 19. The National Cabinet stocks have - - risen during tho last few days. At Tithe end of last week thore were few £& '.'" sanguine as to hopo that any kind of ',■*■ arrangement between tho parties which ;* could load to a measnro of union won Id -*-. -f: bo consummated,- but it would not :>o: '._ correct to say that this is the view of mombers now. It is believed now:' that wo shall know the best or ticworst on Wednesday, on which day the Opposition will resume thoir caucus meeting adjourned from Friday " last. There is a qucotion on the Order ' - Paper addressed by M r E. Newman to *; tho Primo .Minister, asking for infer- ; mation as to what steps have becti • 7- ' taken with a view of forming a No-' . tional Cabinet, but it is not at all ,'• likely that the question will be an- >*'- swered on tho printed supplementary , '''. Order Paper. Tho answer to tho -~-- question when it comes will come in" " somo other way. . '. In reply to an enquiry on tho. sub- . ject. tlits evening, Mr Massey said ho ■'_ could say nothing at all about coalition o r tho prospects of coalition. He c said that he had not seen Sir Jo_>e*-ih Ward for several days—-in fact, Sir '_ Joseph Ward has been in Christchurch. .' for tho last day or two. When tho proposal was first made, \ tho offer by tho Government was to .*". take three members of the Opposition into a Cabinet of nine members, and ■ this proposal was rejected by the Op- .- .*- ---position .for the reason, it ia stated, that in view of the fact that partiM *; wero practically equal in the- Houso, ; ., tho proportion was not a just ono.j, , Sinco then a new proposal lias be**-**, 7 raadt\ it is understood* which cant M"-' be rejected on this ground. It '*• no secret in tho lobbies that '<***<*" *{ the obstacles in tho way of a National t Cabinet is in the choice of tho <***»" leagues of Sir Josoph Ward to *3J«*>- . sent the Opposition nartv in the 3*lß- , istry. There is a suggestion that me---narty ought to bo allowed to elect' those members. WAR PENSIONS BILL. Tho War Pensions Bill i s to be* te~ ported to-morrow from tho D.-fcnca Committee, but it is just possible tnat it may not be recommitted until tho following day. It is believed that th_ scale ot nension? is to bo made retire liberal in certain particulars, and » this is so, the amendments will hin*_* to bo submitted to the Hous 0 by Gov- . crnor's message. NO NATIVE LAND BILL. It is not likclv that there will be a Native Land Bill this session, although, of course, there will, as tibial, bo a number of clauses in the "wash-ing-up" Bill dealing with Native land matters. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Budget will not be presented to the House "to-morrow, as was intended by the Hon. James Allen. After tho Financial Statraie>i_. has been submitted , f Mr Allen is to relinquish control ox. Finance, leaving this departrtcnt -i*> the Prime Minister, but as Mr ..ITO** had nrenared tlio Statement abcr.it niown year of administration, lie As to deliver it to the House. Thc suggestion has b"en made that the delaying of the Budget is in mm- way c/mneciod """i""----the coalition scheme.