SELF-EFFACEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20029, 21 November 1928, Page 8

SELF-EFFACEMENT

SIR JOSEPH WARD IN 1911 “BACK TO THE RANK AHD FILE” [SpEcut to the 'Sub.'] WELLINGTON, November 20. There bos never been anything quite so dramatic in New Zealand electioneering as the turning of tho Coates Government's majority into so serious a minority. When tho late Mr Massey went to thy elections in 1911, hoping to turn out the Ward Government, ho had to dispose of a twenty-two majority, but tho polling was somewhat indecisive. Mr Massey’s supporters claimed that they could win by ten, but a test made in tho session _of February, 1.M2, produced even voting—thirty-nine rn each side. Sir Arthur Guinness, the Speaker, followed tho eonsurutional practice in giving his vote for “ no change.” However, there were troubles in tho Government ranks ivor_ the land question, and tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) knew that the party was in difficulties. It was subsequently known in parliamentary circles that almost immediately after the elections Sir Joseph came to Urn conclusion that if he resigned from the leadership there might bo a good cbanco of reconciling tho disaffected elements, and tho first name which came up lor consideration as a possible Prime Minister was that of the late Sir James Carroll, who had been Acting Prime Minister during Sir Joseph’s absence at the Imperial Conference. However, this never came to public knowledge at that lime. Sir Joseph Ward’s seif-sacrificing decision to eliminate himself for the sake of the Liberal Parly was announced to tho Ifonso prior ’to tho fateful division, which was only won on Mr Speaker’s casting vote. In doing tigs just before the divsion bells rang Sir Joseph referred to the critical discussion as having been mainly a personal attack upon himself ,at her than against Liberalism, and ho went on to declare: “ As far as J am concerned. if wc win this division, ns I honestly believe wo will, I. do not propose to continue in the position I hold now alter that division has taken place. In other words, l am not going to be put in the position into which tho other side through its friends in the country seeks to force me, and 1 am not going to bo used as a butt to injure the Liberal and Labour Party of_ tins country.” (Loud applause from Liberal members.) “ What 1 say to the Liberals and workers of this country is this: f am prepared to go into the rank and file of the JJbcral-Labonr Party to help them to the best of my ability, but I will undertake to say that as a free man I will be a much more dangerous man than I am with my present responsibilities.” A second division that session raised tho Ward Government majority to a narrow margin of two, hut Sir Joseph promptly carried out his own cffaccmont, resigning from the Ministry, Sir Thomas Mackenzie succeeding' to tho position of Prime Minister, It is familiar history that tho reorganisation failed lo convince the freeholders in the party that the Government was .suitable to. them, and a, no-confidence motion in tho session of Juno, 1912, gave a decisive win to Mr Massey by 41 votes to .33, giving the Reform Party a tenure of office lasting just over Lsixteeu years. FINAL RETURNS AUCKLAND WEST. M. J. Savage (.Lab.) ... J,.'!(!!. H, H. Spiers (U.) -1.020 F. Aden no (1!.) 2,021 EDEN. A. J. Sfallworthv (U.) ... 5,4H3r V. H. Potter (R.) .‘1,517 W. T. Anderton (Lab.) ... '2,241 O. E, Burton (C.S.) ... 20U BOSK ILL. G. C, ,Mnnns (U.) 5,715 A. S. Richards (Lab.) ... 3,401 Miss E. Melville (R.) ... 3,3-15 MASTEHTON. G. B. Sykes (R.) 4,207 " R. Rollerts (Lab.) ... ... 1.477 W Thomson (U.) 909 GREY LYNN. .), S. Fletcher (U.) 5,489 F. N. Barlram (Lab.) ... 5,427 P. B. Filzherbert (R.) ... 684 Airs L. Paterson (j.) 72 URDU A. G. Cohlw (U.) ... ... 4,411 G. Eliott (II.) 3,679 GISBOBiNF, W. D. Lysnar (R.) 3.716 i). W. Coleman (Lab.) ... 3,400 W. L. Clayton (U.) 2,035 WALBAU Healey (U.) V 69 Girling (B.) "M6< MID-CANTERBURY, j). .lonos (Reform) ... 4,137 J. Connolly (United) ... 4,082 C. M. Williams (Lab.) 905 ]{. Wightman (Bid.) 212 LG MONT. ’ G. A. Wilkinson (I ml.) ... 4.557 (). ,1, Hawken (Reform) ... 3,291 .Informal 55.