POLITICAL SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 6

POLITICAL SITUATION

NEW PRIME MINISTER ?

INFORMATION FROM THE INNER

CIRCLES

MB.. COATES LIKELY TO BE THE

PNLY NOMINEE,

'(BI TBIEGRAPH'.-^SPKCLit TO THH POST.J

. AUCKLAND, This Day. „ .The "New Zealand Herald" states that information from the inner circles of the . Reform Party, indicates that Mr.. Coates Js likely to be the only-nominee-for tho -leadership when the caucus meets next !?*?*r/The' paper says:—" Only ' three members.of the party were absent from Mr. Massey's funeral; two, that is, in addition to Mr. Downie Stewart, who is out of the Dominion. Opportunity was -taken, to sound the members present, and • the Jesuit was. an overwhelming preference for Mr.'Coates. There is the best .authority for saying that neither Mr. Stewart nor Mr. M'Leod has any supporters who were prepared to take action :on their behalf. One of the most remarkable things was that theOtago and Canterbury members, who might have been expected to support Mr. Stewart, did.not do so. There is a well-founded report that Cabinet has already decided $0 recommend Mr. Coates to the caucus. In this event no other, candidate is likely to be put forward. Mr. Coates' appears to have preference because the party rank and fife admires his personal qualities. He has gained favour with ■individual members for the reason that whenever they have made requests to him on behalf of their own districts he always has been able to give a prompt and decisive answer, couched in blunt language, perhaps but clear and businnesslike., , T They have appreciated this! quality in him, even when he has said 'No.' It is admitted that Mr. Coates lacks experience as a Parliamentary orator and as a tactician, but his own party believes that he has the will and ability to learn both arts.- In the mean.■tfWi.kis colleagues will give him the fullest possible support. So far, it is not known whether Mr. Stewart has made "?- NT,.. announcement by cable about his , willingness or unwillingness to act if appointed. The probability is that a message from him will be laid before the caucus. He is regarded quite definitely as the coming Minister of Finance, but members do riot look to him as Prime Minister, 1 primarily because he is not thought physically able of carrying the burden of that office. Apart from this, he is not held to bo sufficiently a" man ■of-action.- -Of late, he has • lacked decisiveness, for'which Mr! Coates is remarkable, though, it is fair to say .that the Minister' of Customs cannot deal with individual requests quite so promptly as the holders of some other ! portfolios. Mr. Stewart's gifts are admired, but they are held to fit him for the post of lieutenant to Mr. Coates. Mr. M'Leod, who was suggested at one time as a leader, under whom Mr. Coates and Mr. Stewart might 1 hold their present portfolios, is stated to have no supporters at all ip the party ranks." The "Herald" goes; on to say:—"The proposed fusion with.the Liberal Party will, no doubt, be discussed at the caucus. The Liberals are stated to bo secretly.in. favour of it, and the Reform Party correspondingly disinclined to adopt the plan, except possibly after next election. Some of the members think there should be no difficulty in .-carrying, on with the present majority, and that risk is worth taking, since the Liberals would bo entitled to three portfolios in a fusion. Cabinet. Some Reform membcro believe that Labour is likely Jo become, the; Official Opposition in the iiext Parliament, and that if that hap- j pens the-Liberals will agree to fusion ! almosf.unconditionally," i