THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 1912. THE FIFTEENTH OF FEBRUARY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 January 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17, 1912. THE FIFTEENTH OF FEBRUARY.

The fifteenth is big with the fate of parties. What that fate is to be it is hard to prophecy. What it ought to be will be read into the situation by everyone according to his political wishes. Everybody is sorry for Sir Joseph Ward—every decent member of society, that is—who is disgusted with the blatancy of some writers. But the question for practical men is what next. To the most careless observer there does not seem much doubt of a motion of no-con-fidence from the Massey side. Will it pass ? Probably, because so many of the Independents or Labourites are pledged to get the Ward Government out. Massey being sent for and forming a government ; will that government stand ? Probably not. But then what will happen ? Another Liberal government of course. What Premier? Needless to say, in view of the above named pledges, not Ward—otherwise the Independents would be simply putting Ward out to-day in order to bring him back to-morrow, which would be a strange way of fulfilling a promise—one that no public would forgive. Will that other government last ? Probably not; because of the many elements of discord. Then ? It is difficult to see what but a dissolution. Such is the programme very easily mapped out by the men who sit in their studies and give interest to their contemplative pipes by talking politics. The practical man knows that their is an unwritten maxim which works with almost constitutional force—Payment of members does not admit of dissolutions. Certain it is that since payment has been frankly recognised, there has been no dissolution. If there is to be no dissolution some members will have to reconsider their positions in order to make terms with one side or the other. Probably the way out will be, not by general politics, but by the exaction of a pledge to have some particular measure or set of measures passed into law. The precedent is in the story of the party known in the earlier eighties as "the Auckland Rats." Hall, having put Grey out, was face to face wilh a no-confidence motion, pretty sure of success. He gained time by neglecting the motion. At the end of a month of what was prao

tically " doldrums," the four members concerned demanded pledges to safeguard education on the secular free and compulsory lines and to pass manhood suffrage. The men were Colbeck, Swanston, Hurst and Reader-Wood. The demand was accepted, and the, Hall government went on. If there is a solution of that kind there^willbe no dissolution and no reason to regret—none outside the party ranks. But if there is to be trafficking of principals and surrenders of rights, then a dissolution would be a million times better. Let us keep up the purity of Parliament and its independence, even if it ruins us in election expenses.