THE POLITICAL POSITION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 27 June 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL POSITION

CONJECTURES AND CON-

TINGENCIES

[By Telegraph—Special to Star.] WELINGTON. June 26. While I was talking to-day with Mr Qoates, the member for sCaipara, I gathered that, despite rumor, he is not pledged to either party, and that neither side can claim him with absolute confidence. He was not inclined to make a declaration prematurely, but if I can gauge his mental attitude aright, he is disinclined to alter his previous decision, though if the Government went out of power be probably would not be avetsp to Mr Massev taking a turn at the administrative wheel. This attitude is not confined to Mr Coates. and if the Government fell, the party lines would be down rrobably on both sides of the House. Thee is a confident feeling among the Liberals that, under such conditions, it is not so certain that the Opposition would profit; they believe that a modified Liberal party would evolve, but at present they decline to admit the prospect of defeat.