THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 42, 15 June 1896, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Mr Warp anh his colleagues. PROBABLE ADVERSE RESOLUTION. [Special to Standai:i>. ' lUj Telegraph—thru < 'i.>rrrx}»>ii>l< at. / Wellington, This Day. Immediately after hid arrival yesterday, Mr Ward repaired to the Premier's residence, Molesworth Street, and remained there the whole day and till night was well advanced. It is stated to-day, apparently on good authority, that Mr SecUlon has his colleague's resignation in his pocket, but that it will not be announced till the decision of Judge Williams in the -J. (<. Ward Farmers Co-operative Association case is given. Some half-dozen Ministerialists who have intimated the Premier that Mr Ward's retirement from office must be brought about if their allegiance is to be continued, have stated their intention of remaining away from the caucus. One story current is that that Mr Ward will make a statement as Treasurer, announcing his resignation as a Minister of the Crown, and from the Opposition side it is said that unless the resignation be announced before the House meets to-morrow afternoon Captain Russell will at once table an adverse resolution, traversing the construction of the Ministry, but which, of course, will have reference to the Treasurer. It is an open secret that Mr Seddon and Mr John MeKenzie wished to stand loyal to Mr Ward, and that it was only in deference to the wishes of their supporters and to preserve the solidity of the parly that the inevitable was accepted, for it was made patent to the leader of the House that in this matter his following would not be whipped into line. Ministers profess to fear nothing from a complete investigation of their connection with banking matters, ami I learn on reliable authority that a proposal will come from the Treasury benches for appointment of a Select Committee to investigate Mr Ward's connection therewith as a Minister of the Crown. Members feel strongly that the position of certain prominent officials in

the Dank of New* Zealand must a\S3 be considered, and a provision in that direction will ho made with the order of reference of the proposed committee. In this connection it should he borne in mind that the President of the Dank of New Zealand was appointed '•During good behaviour and cihcieucv," and that power is <;tvcn to the (iovernor in Council to order his removal. Major Steward prc.-ided over a meetiof the Elective Executive i>arty this monsiiifi, at which arrangements were made for the second reading o of tlr.it measure. It is conceded <m all sides that Captain Russell made a false move in not tabling a resolution on the day Parliament opened. 1 iad lie done so the Treasurer would have been forced to ivsign at the dictation of i!u- Opposition, a> it is his retirement may he consider-, d voluntary and at the wish of the Liberal party. Latest. The position is unaltered, the decision in ihe Ward Farmers" Association case not bavin:,' been given. '■ There's bound to he a row at the caucus just about to be held when u is found the Treasurer's resignation not announced.