EXTRA EDITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1912, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION.

RUMOUR DENIED. POLITICAL SITUATION STATEMENT BY Silt JOSEPH WARD. The Post I^as the authority of the Prime Minister for giving a distinct denial to the statement which has been published that it is the intention of the Government to resign. Sir Joseph Ward adds that there is no authority whatever, so far as he is concerned, for the r'umouro mentioned in the telegrams published below. OPINIONS OF CHRISTCHURCH MEMBERS [BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO IHE POST.] CHRISTCHUECH, This Day. Local members of Parliament seem to have no precise- information regarding current political movements. The statement that Sir Jobeph' Ward has decided to resign on the eve of the coming session has taken them by burprke. and their comments show no unanimous opinion. Mr. H. G. Ell. who presumably speaks only for himself, says that resignation would he a mistake, bnt some of his colleagues are known to" favour tho course advocated by the Lyttslton Times, which has consistently urged the Ministry to place the cares of office on the shoulders of Mr. Massey pending tho reconstruction of the dissolved forces of Liberalism and Labour. * One of the local membei'3 — a prominent member of the advanced wing of Liberalism — stated yesterday that he believed Mr. Massey would hold office for a considerable period. "It all depends on what the Reformers do," ho said. "If they fulfil their election pi'olnises and manage, at the same time, to .retain the Conservative support that is represented by the members of the old school — ilr. Fraser, Mr. James Allen, and the rest — th«y may stay in office until a Labour-Radical Government succeeds them. The position would be different if we had a popular leader of progressive ideas and magnetic personality to succeed Sir Joseph Ward, who • seems to be regarded/ quite unjustly 1 think, as an unsuitable man. But we nave no 6\ich leader in sight." NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION MENTIONED WHAT WILL MR. MILLAE DO! fBX lET.EGKAPH — PEESS ASSOCIATION.] GORE, 30th January. A prominent Liberal member has informed the Mataura Ensign that Sir Ward has decided to resign on 14th February, and to recommend Mr. Maseey to the Governor as his successor. At a later stage the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie will move a no- confidence motion against Mr.' Massey. Mr. Millar resigns his seat and fiis portfolio absolutely, and goes to Australia, and this had no small influence on Sir Joseph Ward's decision. Commenting on the news, tho Ensign save : — "So many rumours ar-e afoot that it is hard to place trust in any, but we have the of our informant that an arrangement as stated had been come ,to by the party. Whether they ultimately change their plans is another matter." NO TRUTH IN THE STATEMENT.* ' GOEE, .This Day. In- connection with the rumour published in the Mataura Ensign, and telegraphed yesterday, the Hon. J. A. Millar has telegrapned* to the editor, in response to a comrnunicatioii, as follows : — "No truth in statement _re resigning.'