SOME PRESS OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 5

SOME PRESS OPINIONS.

NORTH ISLAND COMPLETELY ESTRANGED, SATISFACTORY RECONSTRUCTION IMPOSSIBLE. (By Telosranh.—Soocial CorresDondenU Auckland, December 29. The "Herald" says: "Even Ministerial apologists appear to have realised that the Ward Administration has succeeded in completely estranging the North Island. 'They.do not appea" to realise that the South Island is equally dissatisfied with the conduct of public affairs, and has only been prevented from joining whole-heartedly in the political revolt by tho desperate efforts of a. Cabinet practically composed of Southern members. The North, as wo have so frequently pointed out, asks from' any Administration nothing but fair and equitable dealing, and is in no way opposed to tho legitiniato development of the South Island by reasonable and well-considered State action. Tho 'Ward Administration cannot possibly' hold office unless it- maintains its past administrative policy, for to abandon that policy is ';o lose its last feeble grip upon the South Wand. Yet that it can no longer persist in that policy must bo self-evident. No reconstruction of t the Cabinet which will satisfy tho country is possible or conceivable, for it would bo absurd to imagine the Cabinet dedicating itself to a voluntary self-denying ordinance and sacrificing tho sweets of oflico ill order to save its party. Mr. Millar, as Minister for E.iiJwny.-. Sir James Carroll, os Native Minister, and Mr. R. M'Kcnzic, as Minister for Public- Works, have- all become intolerable. That the Government should not wish to relinquish ofhco without an effort to avoid retirement is . very natural, but wo do not. doubt that in the face of all thr circumstances Sir Joseph Ward will act as a. statesman, and after' meeting an early Parliament will advise bis Excellency tho Governor to send for Mr. Massey." THE CONSTITUTIONAL ASPECT. WHAT THE GOVERNOR CAN DO.' 18/ TeJcernph.-Sj.ecinl CorreSDondonU Christchurch, December 20. The "Press" to-morrow will deal with tho political situation _as follows:—The euger office seekers and ingenuous Cabinet makers who have been settling tho affairs of the country in secret caucus, and are so anxious for Sir Joseph Word to hang or in spite of the people's condemnation, seem to havo lost sight of one important factor in the situation, namely, the fact that oven under responsible government, there is still a cortain_ amount of power and iudced responsibility vested in his Excellency llin Governor, "i'lider ordinary circumstances, when things are going smoothly the Governor has simply to accent the advice of his Ministers', not blindly or automatically, but always with the right of discussion, and of making suggestions for the consideration of his official advisors. In a crisis . like the presold, however, (he Governor may hnd 'it in accordance with bis functions, anil, indeed, demanded by his sense of duly, to take a more decided part in the settlement of the difficult constitutional dilliculty which has arisen. A standard

authority on constitutional law and practice lays it down that the direct power of a c(>'n>titutii>nal Governor in the colony over which he presides is practically greater than Hint of the Sovcro'gn, in the Mother Country. After referring to Iho duties and functions of .1 Governor, the "Pre.is" continue*: It is his business tu see Unit the-Government is carried on in ucc/irdanee with tho will of the people, and this means, of course, lli.it ho must satisfy hini.-clt' that his advisers posspss the confidence of the country. As the result, of the genera! election Sir .Tcseph Ward comes back with only 31 pledged supporters out of a Houso ol SO, cr 35 with Mr. Isitt. who I'crsisted in colling himself an Independent during the campaign, but promptly lttendud the first Ministerial caucus held after that event. One of Sir Joseph Ward's colleagues is deieated, and the bulk of his supporters at .the fii*t caucus that is

held insist on tho retirement of three other .Minister;, and suggest new men in their places. With what, face can the Prime Minister approach his Excellency, insisting that he still possesses the confidence of the country; that therefore ho ought to bo allowed to conlinuc in office without calling Parliament for three or even six months; that ho should even be allowed to reconstruct his Ministry and perform important administrative acts, for nil Iho world as if his Govcru- , ment had been returned intact, at the late elections with an overwhelming majority in his favour? If his Excellency were 16 sanction such proceedings, would ho not bo favouring one party, not only to the disadvantage of the other party, but to tho disadvantage of the country:- Would he not. simply bo enabling a Prime Minister discredited by tho country time and opportunity to cntrcuch himself securely by intriguing among representatives returned to the House more or less loosely pledged in their allegiance? Would ho bo giving full and free play to the will of the lisuplc and safeguarding their liberties:-' The one decisive feature disclosed by the lalo elections was the fact that Sir Joseph Ward had lost the confidence of the country. The one demand throughout the Dominion at the-present time is that Parliament should be called together without delay, so that the question as to who aro to constitute his Excellency's advisers may bo authoritatively settled in tho only constitutional way. Even Ministerial journals agree that this ought to be done. One of the clearest principles of constitutional Government is that Parliament should be called together as early as possible, when as the result <f a general election thcro is any doubt as to whether Ministers possess the confidence of the country. This is, of course, still move imperative if a reconstruction of the Ministry is in contemplation. In New South Wales the electoral law actually makes it compulsory for Parliament to meet within seven davs after the return of the writs, xji Now Zealand in 1879 Sir Hercules Robinson, in granting a dissolution to the then "Liberal" Prime Minister, Sir Geo. Grey, made it a condition that Parliament should be dissolved with the least possible delay, and ho added: "It is necessary also in accordance with (lie established constitutional precedent that the new Parliament shall bo called together at the earliest moment at which tho writs are returnable." Even in those days there was a suspicion that Literal Prime Ministers could develop limpet-like propensities for clinging to office. It is fortunate that we have at present in office a ..Government who has had considerable political experience, and who, ivo believe, mav bo trusted to see that tho intrigues of politics aro not allowed to set at nought the will of the peoplo or imperil their liberties. MR. ISITT'S "INDEPENDENCE." The intelligent reader will, no doubt, observe in the. list of names of those who attenued the secret "Liberal" gathering in Christchurcn (says tho "Wairarapa Daily Tiuica") tho name of Mr. Isitt, Ji.f'. for Christchurch .North. This is at once very amusing, and a confirmation of homo sarcastic things that wore said at the expense of Mr. Isitt duriug tho past few months. Mr. Isitt won tho by-ciection as an "Independent," but immediately on entering Parliament he attached himself to Iho retinue of the Prime Minister, and sought, with much snarling ami snapping of teeth, to defend his master from tho vigorous attacks of tho Opposition. When ho again faced the Christchurch electors, ami was taxed with his Parliamentary speeches in support of a discredited Administration, he vehemently asserted that he was an Independent, attached to no party. So ho was elected— and now what do wo find? "Independent" Air. Isitt attending a secret meeting of the. "Liberals," who, redu'eed in numbers and really discredited as n party, are wondering how on earth they aro going to retain office. Truly, Mr. Isitt's friends will be sorrowful, and his enemies will rejoice exceedingly. "KNOWS HE CANNOT -CARRY ON." "The fact that the Primo Minister has not seen fit to make an announcement of his intention's before the holidays has occasioned wixlo comment. Possibly Sir Joseph's past secrecy in other directions is iu tho main responsible for this, but as far as tho present position is concerned, the necessity for such hasto is not apparent. A majority of members have been elected to the House pledged to support a voto of no-confidence in tho Government, the continuation of which is manifestly impossible. But the Primo Minister, even under these conditions, has surely claims for timo in which to consider the position. Ho knows that his party cannot cmy on, and consequently in the interim is not at all likely by ill-advised action to prejudice any future prospects of that party. And Mr. Massey is not So desperately anxious to assume office as to wish for a climax before the New Year. But in tho condition of the parties it may bo claimed that' something definite should bo done in January."—"Eketahuna Express."

GALLING FOR THE PUBLIC. The festivities of the season have not been allowed to interfere in any way with the desire of the public to know the mind of that sadly-perplexed politician. Sir Joseph AVard (says the "Mauv watu Evening Standard"). Having chosen to delay a revelation of his intentions, the Premier has had to suffer the invasion of his Christmas season by a small nrnvy of pressmen, eager to assist him in toiling tho. country what he intends to do. To all such inquiries Sir Joseph has bcon brief and concise in his negatives. And while' it is refreshing to note so sudden a displacement of exuberant loquacity by sphinx-like bilence, the anxious public finds it just a little galling to havo to wait so long for the verdict. Itowcvir, I hero are signs that tho Premier is hearing a decisive point. Yesterday lie conferred with tho South Island members of his party, and ho is now returning to Wellington to meet tho North Island following. When the second of these conferences is over. Sir Joseph should bo in a position to make a. statement of his intentions, and there- is no reason whatever why ho should not declare his policy immediately instead of dclaving til) January 10, as was suggested in his statement last week. Tho Premier does not appear to be improving his position as timo goes on.

"ON THE BEST AUTHORITY." "Wo have it on the best authority that there are five or six of the present Government sunnorters who are so tiiOd of their leader, (hat flioy are determined on joining the Massoy partv when tho time arrives far Win? (])*,> working strength of the parties—that is, when Parliament tiieeis. The. foci that, the Premier's formerly avowd supporters now prefer Mr. Miisscy a's a leader sneaks lor itself, ami is ;i direct ansiver (6 tho paltry drivel . . . that Mr. Massey is incompetent to lead.-"Horowhenua County Record.'

"OPTIMISM" AND THE FACTS. The Christchurch "Press" says:—"Mr. Wi ford's departure for the Old Country to-day certainly complicates Sir Joseph Ward s position, already far from easy. Giving tlio Government every member who_ is likely to support them in a noconfidence division, we cannot boo how they can muster more than 38, against tho total of 42 vol in? against the Government. Wo have included in tho Government list such Independents as Messrs. Isitt, Coates, and Rhodes, and have given them one Labour member, Mr. Hindmarsh. On the other hand, wo liavo assumed that the three Labour members, Messrs. Veitch, Robertson, and Payne, who owe their election to the Kcforin party's support, will act. in accordance with their platform pledges, and will therefore vote to turn out the Government, and that Mr. Atmorc, tlin NeNnu Independent, will also vote with Mr. Mnsscy. Under Uie circumstances, we do not see where Sir Joseph Ward can hope to get sufficient support to warrant him in thinking ho can carry on. If ho chooses to try to do so, lie must further weaken his forces by nominating someone —no doubt Sir Arthur Guinness—as Speaker, and Mr. Wilford's absence will mean the loss of another vole, so that at the oulsido his party can consist of only thirly-six members, as against (lie forty-two following Mr. Mnssey. Surely not oven the Prime Minister's invetcrnle optimism can lead him to seo anything hopeful for his side in such a situation."