THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Evening Star, Issue 12843, 19 June 1906, Page 6

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

[Special to • the Star.] WmUNGTON, June 13 THE WESTLAND SEAT. It is definitely understood that neither of Mr Seddon’s sons intends to contest the Westland seat. Captain Seddon is not anxious for political honors, and Mr T. T. Seddon prefers to continue in the career - upon which he has already embarked- Under these circumstances it is thought that Mr H. L. Michel [Mayor of Hokitika) has every chancs of ultimately representing the constituency. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. There has been some considerable discussion regarding the proposal to adjourn - Parliament for a few weeks after passing Supply and electing a Speaker, and one local paper published a strong article protesting against what was' characterised as “ a serious waste of time.” Tbe older political hands do not concur in this view at all, and are emphatically unanimous in the that if Mr Hall-Janes intends to - hand over the reins of government to SirJoseph Ward, there must bo an adjournment until he arrives. If the House is to continue sitting, they point out, Mr HallJones will have to pronounco a definite policy, and Sir Joseph Ward, when he assumes office a month later, will have also to pronounce a policy. The' two would ’ probably be the same in their salient features, but they would undoubtedly conflict in expression. The suggestion that the House might engage itself with routine business and private local Bills for a month is scoffed at as a ridiculous cheapening of parliamentary life. THE WORKERS’ ATTITUDE, j Special to the Star.} CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. The ‘Lyttelton Times,’ commenting on the political situation in the light of Mr. Arnold's Waimate address, says:—The workers have to very closely watch political developments during the next lew months. Parliament has been growing' steadily more conservative during recent years, and it is quite possible that in New Zeeland, as in Australia, it may be necessary tor the workers to create a party of' their own, in order to secure the recognition cf their views. But we would not have that devolpment regarded as inevitable. A great effort will no • doubt be uade by the landowners to capture the Liberal 'party, and if they succeed the name that has been associated with the compulsory land purchase scheme, with graduated taxation cf ground valuesand with popular principles generally will be used to cover just those iniquities—class rule and iristocratio administration—

which oppressed the colony in the late eighties. We -want to see the Liberal party saved from that degradation, and only the workers of the colony can save them. If they stand true to Liberal principle* and to the party now, they will be able to perpetuate the successful old alliance' of Labor and progressive Liberalism, and on the vigor of their crusade will depend the extent to which their views are to find expression in the legislation of the future. 'I hero can be no doubt as to' the wisdom of Mr Arnold’s advice to the Waimatd workers. Now, more than ever, they must be true to their principles In another leader the ‘Lyttelton Times’ declares that the ’New Zealand Times ’ must have misunderstood the purpose of the proposed adjournment. It is not to add a further tribute to the memory of Mr Seddoh, which will be honored in a hundred other ways, but to avoid the difficulties inseparable from the change of leadership in the middle of a session If Mr Hall-Jones intended to hold the position foi himself it would be different; but we have all assumed that he is merely filling it until the arrival of Sir J. 6. Ward, and that ho will then hand over its dignities and responsibilities tc his colleague. Of, ocuise, he will have to go through the form of resigning and advising the Governor to fend for Sir Joseph, but that win be simply part of the prescribed routine. If Sir Joseph should be ready to meet Parliament about the middle of August, two months’ earnest work should see the enl of all absolutely necessary business. The sensible course, it seems to us, would bo to prorogue Parliament next week after voting Supply and pissing resolutions in connection with Mr Seddon’s death, on the understanding that it be called together again on a date to lie arranged by Sir Joseph and his colleagues. This would enable Mr Hall-Jones to confine the “ Speech from tlic Throne ” to a few simple sentences, and would leave Sir Joseph free to submit his policy in the ordinary way at the beginning of the second session. If Parliament were merely adjourned there could be no second “ Speech," and though the now Premier might enumerate his policy from the floor of the House it would not, propertly speaking, he before the whole Legislature. 'This point may not be of much consequence in itself, but it is typical of other points that would arise out of a divided leadership, and we trust that Mr Hall-Jones will not be persuaded into embarking upon a very hazardous experiment. AIR SEDDON AND SIR JOSEPH WARD. A CONTRAST. He following, from a leading article in the Melbourne ‘ Argus,’ will be read with interest at the present juncture; — Sir Joseph Ward has been looked upon as the only possible successor to Mr Seddon in the leadership of the Liberal party, but the question is whether be can hold together the forces which Mr Seddon dominated by his iron will and his strenuous industry. In character and. in methods the two men arc totally unlike. Sir Joseph Ward is suave, tactful, and oonciliatoiy at all ordinary times, but subject to occasional outbursts of emotion, during winch he loses that well-balanced of men. and movements in which Mr Beddon never failed. He has not Mr Seddon’s ready sympathy with the humble toiler and the rough miner, and, above all, he lacks that alertness of mind which always enabled Mr Bed don to check revolt at its very first appearance. The party numbers many able men, who have been kent in. obscurity by Mr Seddon’s all-powerful personality. They will hot tamely submit to being overshadowed by a less imposing leader than hoi and the very heterogeneous elements of which the party is composed—from conservative country members to violent city Radicals—may provide plenty of grsanda for intrigue and dissension.