MINISTER RESIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15714, 6 September 1911, Page 9

MINISTER RESIGNS.

HON GEORGE FOWLDS HANDS IN

HIS PORTFOLIOS,

ACTUATED BY VOTE OF HOUSE.

SHACKLES OF OFFICE THROWN

OFF.

AN IDEALIST SEEKS FKEEDOM. [From Gun Coekesponuent.] WELLINGTON, September 5.

"The Hon George Fowlds," said tho Prime Minister to-day, " has tendered.' tho resignation of his portfolios as a Minister of the Crown and also as a member of the Executive. I waited on the Governor and placed the resignation before iiim., and it has been accepted. I desire to say how muoh I I regret that the sevoranco with my esj teemed friend, not as a friend but as I a member of tho Ministry, has taken place. Ho has been associated with me ! in tho Ministry for a little over five ! years. Dining that time no cross word ; has taken place between us, or between I him and any of my colleagues. Our I relations have been of tho most harj monious character, and I take the opJ portunity of acknowledging his civility 1 and public spirit at all times in th« interests of the people of the country and in tho administration of the im- > portant departments over which ho has so ably presided. As friends wo met, as. friends we part, and friends I hope wo will always* bo." (Applause.) " I should liko to Bay a few words to supplement tho statement that has just been made by tho Prime Ministor," said Mr Fowlds. "The state-i ment I wish to make is that I hava handed to tho Primo Minister my resignation of the various portfolios I have held in the Government, and also my office as a member in tho Executive Council. I desire to state that I have not taksn thia step on account of any 1 personal differences between the Prime Minister and myself, or between any of my other colleagues and myself. My I relations, both personal and official, l have been of a most harmonious character with all of them. Our political idoals have been widely divergent on many questions, but these differences havo never interfered with our pergonal relationship, and I can honestly say that it i 3 with deep regret that I, havo felt impelled to take the serious' step I now take. I want to emphasise the fact that I leave the Government without a personal grievance of any kind whatsoever. I think it is duo to the House, that I should give. sano explanation of my action. Such actions are usually precipitated by some crucial question arising, marking fundamental of opinion betweon a Minister and his colleagues. My reasons are, however, of a more general character. It is quite true that my action has to porno extent, been precipitated by a' division that took place in Parliament some weeks ago on tho Town Planning Bill. The importance of that vote, from a Constitutional point of fioWj I havo already doaß with in the public Press. The political r.ignificanco of it is no less momentous. That a substantial number of members of the Government party should by their votes say that while they were not prepared to trust the Government as a whole, sitting with the Governor hi Council, to do certain important admnistrative aots, they wero prepared to entrust these acts to a board of Government officials with, perhaps, one Minister sitting as a member or as chairman, was to my mind symptomatic of a. very serious condition of affairs. Tho action and attitude of the Opposition were perfectly natural, their business being to oppose the Govern-: ment and to displace it if they can. To discredit tho Government by creating ah impression that it is not to ha trusted to perform national adminiatrative acts is part of thoir normal funo» tion, but tho position is entirely different when Government supporters adopt that attitude. Tho vote itsell was a comparatively trifling affair) considering Ehe emallness of the numbers voting, I daresay it might easily have been adjusted, but the condition of which it was .symptomatic is much more difficult of adjustment. That condition, as it appears to me, is one of dissatisfaction and unrest in tha party in its relations with its representatives who compose tho Government. I have had no indication that such dissatisfaction centres itself on me personally, but I havo felt it impossible for mo to remain a member of a Government which was unable to secure that measure of party loyalty necessary to carry on the government of the country with some degree of dignity and self-respect. I have neTer been greatly enamoured of party government, but until we have evolved both the machinery and the publio spirit necessary to make some other form of government possible it is essential that the Govemmont should have such support as -would enable it to earry out its functions in a reasonably dion'ined manner. 'When it is unable to do that its usefulness is gone. When I entered publio life, I did so for the attainment of ideals, and not with the object of attaining and maintaining place and power. The call to ministerial rijnk came entirely unsolicited Gitber by me or for me, and I accepted it in a "spirit of service, willing_ and anxious at any time to step aside if I felt that I could do better for my country out of office than I could in office. ~ That conviction has now come to mo, and ba,s dictated the step I havo taken. When I joined tho Government which Sir Joseph Ward formed in August, 190(3, I did so with tho full knowledge that' only small progress would be made in the direction of many Croat reforms I had advocated as a private membor, and in that respect I have not been greatly' disappointed. I joined in tho belief that I could render tho country some useful service in the direction of honest and efficient Administration, and that my presence in the Government, if it did not greatly holp along the reforms in which I was interested; woul<l certainly not eoriouslv hinder them. I think that I may : claim in a modest sort of way that my administration of the departments which havo been entrusted to me has not been a failure. I have been privileged, with the loyal aid capable help of tho officers of my and with the co-opera-tion of my fellow membsrs of Parliament to put on the Statute Look important lesrislation affecting nearly all the departments 1 have presided over, which legislation will render those departments 'novo efficient and more helpful in the interests of the people as a whole. The relations I havo had with tho officers of my various departments havo been of a most cordial character, ■•'nil parting with them gives me a, painful wrench, which, I believe, will also bo felt by them. Regarding the futuro, 1 roDoat in substanoe what I said at the beginning of my statement. "I s?.o out without a vestigo of antagonism or ill-will towards my late colleagues. Their paths and mine may lio in 'different directions. _ I don't go out to form any new political cult. _ I believe in the principles of Liberalism. I. am conscious of the groat work that Liberalism has done for Now Zealand, and when the history of the past twenty years comes to be written I impartially and honestly believe that tho legislation that has been put on tho Statute Book by tho Government of Sir Joseph War:.'! will occupy an honoured place. But the times in which we Jive demand a now evangel, a gospel which I havo felt I could not preach as a member of tho present Government, and so I hava decided for freedom in order that I might express my whole, soul to thepeople of Now Zealand. Everywhere

throughout tho civilised world to-day wo see a spirit of unrest amongst tho mass of the people—an unrest, let me ►ay, which is justified by the social conditions in which tho great mass of tho people livo; an unrest which will not De quietened until a condition of social 'rustics has been established. If 1 can succeed to any' great extent in moulding this rising tide of now democracy into what I uelieve to bo right channels, then I shall foci more than repaid for what appears like present sacrifice. I go out under no illusions regarding the difficulties and dangers that lie beforo me. Many people will judge me foolish; some may even consider me wicked. In the future, as in the past,. 1 shall endeavour to satisfy myself that my course is tho right eno, that my actions are dictated not by hope of private advantage or preference, but by motives of public benefit. Somo of my friends on the Opposition s.ide will probably say that I am scuttling out of a sinking ship. The only inducement that would have kept mo on tho Government skip would have been that of battling with adverse Opposition gales. In my judgment, the present Opposition do net constitute a factor in the future political life of this country. As far as that party is concorned, I believe no Government in New Zealand ever wont to tho country with less to fear. In my opinion, tho present leader of tho Liberal Party, »ver since the last election, has had his eye focussed too much on the Opposition, and too little on the forces that have been developing in advance of tho Liberal Party. In conclusion, I think it is only fair to Sir Joseph Ward and my other colloaguos to state that the charges of corruption and Tanimanyism which have been so freely levelled against the Government have been entirely unwarranted, Members of the Government may have made mistakes, but I know of nothing that has occurred during my connection with, them that oouldTbe called corrupt. And now I have only to express- my tihanks to members of tho Government party and of the House generally for the kindness and courtesy they have shown .to me while I havo been a Minister of the Crown, and to say that whenever a truly democratic party arises in this country, a party pledged to definite principles, principles which it believes, and which it is prepared to fight for, it shall have my Wholo-souled support; and if it should become numerous enough to enable it to form a Government, and invites me to join, my services will be available. In tho meantime, I believe I can best serve the country as a private member.'' • MR FOWLDS'S SUCCESSOR. [From Otm Correspondent.] ■WELLINGTON, September 5. It is premature to discuss the probable successor to Mr Fowlds, and it is not at all likely that any pronouncement will be made before ,the general Blection. Sir Joseph Ward said this afternoon that ho would not make a statement on the point, yot. Probably, the portfolios will be distributed \n the meantime. ■ THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED. [From o,T3i_Cofißi:spasDENT.]o ,T 3i_Cofißi:spasDENT.] WELUNGTO'N, September 5. "I am not prepared at present to slaborate any cut-and-dried platform," Said the Hon G. Fowlds last evening when approached by a "Lyttelton Times " representative for an explanation in regard to tho Hew evangel referred to m his statement. "But I consider on© of the most urgent things to be done is to mako a serious effort ;to reduce iho cost of living, and in my ■judgment this can best be done by increasing the taxation on land values niid using tho prooseds of tho tax, first to abolish ttutaes on tie neoessaries of life, secondly to reduce railway freights In order to bring the produce of the country to the consumer more cheaply. "t We held strongly to the belief thai one of the most urgent constitutional feforins was the adoption of proportional representation, and that many of the evils that New Zealand suffers from to-day can only be remedied by that system of representation. THE EX-MINISTER'S CAREER. ' The Hon George Fowlds, Minister of Education, Minister of Immigration, Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals and the Fire Insurance Department, and Minister of Customs, who created a political sensation yesterday by tendering his resignation, is a, native of Scotland. He was born in Ayrshire fifty-one years ago, and is the son of the late Mr Matthew Fowlds, of Greystoneknowo On completing his education at a village school in his native town and at the Andersonian College, Glasgow, he was, at the age of thirteen years, apprenticed to the ■tailoring trade at EihnarnooK. ■Five years later he removed to Glasgow, where he spent some years in a wholesale warehouse. When twentytwo years of age he decided to seek his fortune abroad. Emigrating to South Africa, he had a varied coloniisil experience. After some time, finding that tho climate did not suit Mrs Fowlds s health, he, in 1885, decided to settle in New Zeaiund, On reaohinfi Auckland he determined to make his Some in the northern capital, and commenced business as a hatter and mercer. Gradually he built up a very large business as a tailor and outfitter, which, he still carries- on. For several years, he filled the post of vice-president of the Burns 01 üb, and has also been an office-bearer of the Congregational Church, in which he occupied the positions of secretary and treasurer of the Congregational Union of rtow Zealand, and chairman of the Union. He began his management of local affairs as a member of the Point Chevalier School Committee, and studied the needs of the Mount Albert district as a member of the local Road Board. In 1898 he entered Parliament, and has since then represented Grey Lynn. In 1906 he paid a visit to his native land, and, with Sir Joseph Ward, tho Hon Robert M'Nab and Mr J. G. W. Aitken, then a member of the House of Representatives, he was present . at the centenary of his father at Kilmarnock. His father, who died in thai following year as the result of an Occident, was the oldest weaver in the United Kingdom. Ho lived in a picturesque whitewashed cottage at Fen wick, where he and his farther beforo. him first saw the light, and where ho had lived for one hundred years. Born on May 22,'1806, Mr Matthew Fowlds was the fifth descendant of a famous Covenant, er, Captain John Baton, of jVfoaddwhead, who was executed at Edinburgh In the sixteenth century. On the way. Home Mr Fowlds paid a visit to South Africa, where he was cordially received. On the formation of the Ward Government in August. 1906, .Mr George Fowlds was offered a seat in the Cabinet, which ho aoce.pt«d. and in the five years during which he hold, offico showed much energy in carrying out the many duties of the" position. Prior ' to his first success at tho polls in 1893, tho Auckland " Star " gave the following summary of his " platform " : " He advocated reform of tho electoral machinery; tho reduction of the breakfast-table tax by Increased tax of Id in tho pound on land values; a central school in each of the large centres, where different classes of study could bo taken up; technical education: speedy communication by rail with WoUihafton; colonial scale of payment for teachers and Civil jervants; popular decision of the licensing question at the ballot box. He hoped to see the principle of the referendum extended to all groat questions, and the Upper House abolished. If elect&d, without being tho slave of any party, he would give' a general support to the Liberal Government. He had given no pledge to any party. He would stand or fall by Liberal principles, and.follow the party that would hi'mfc these princinhia into lejEisir**'"-*-' 4

Under the regime of Mr Fowlds the | hospital and charitable aid administration of tho dominion has been com- ] pletcly remodelled and ca-ordinated, i .and this session he introduced and carried through the Sous© of Rspresenta- j tives a comprehensive measure which t will do a similar service in the adminis- | tration of the system for the care, of mental defectives. In education mat- ; tors Mr Fowlds has an equally good re- . cord. He intreduced legislation pro- . viding a dominion classification of teachers, with increases of salary in most cases. The training colleges have been systematically developed and extended, secondary education by menus of the free place system encouraged, a school for defectivo bojs established, and tho "School Journal" started. At the opening of the. Union Parliament in Cape Town on November 4. 1910, Mr Fowlds officially represented New Zealand and travelled throughout the federated States with other distinfuished representatives of the overseas opinions, including the (Australian Federal Prime Minister, tho Hon A. Fisher. . j Having actively interested himself for somo years in the question of town planning "Mr Fowlds intreduced this session a Town Planning Bill, designed to provide machinery Which would enable town planning schemes to bo formulated and carried out by local authorities under the general control of e. Town Planning Board. When the Bill was in committee in tho House of Representatives on August 11 strong objection was taken to sub-clause 10 of clause 3, which read: "The Govern or-in-Council may either approve or disapprove of the. scheme, or he may approve of the same with such modifications as he thinks fit, or he may refer the scheme to the Board for further inquirv." This provision was attacked through the preceding clause, which provided that the Town Planning Board should make its, recommendations on any schemes to the Governor-in-Council. Mr Anderson (Mataura) moved to strike out all reference to the' Gover-nor-in-Council, and by a majority of fivo it was decided to do so, those who voted with the mover being Messrs Anderson, Arnold, Buchanan, Buick, Craigie, Davoy, Dive, J. Duncan, Eraser, Glover, Graham, Outline, Hanan, Herdman, Herries, Hine, Jennings, Luke, Malcolm, Mancler, Massey, Myers, Newman, Nosw-orthy, Pcarcc, Phillips, Russell, Scott, Sidey, G. M. Thomson-, Witty and Wright; tellers, Messrs Allen and Hardy. There were ten Government members and two Independents in the list. A few davs later Mr Fowlds informed a reporter that this decision involved so important a change in the Bill that he would not proceed with it until after consultation with Sir Joseph Ward, then on his way to New Zealand. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. [Fbom Our Coheespondekt.] AUCKLAND, September 5. The "New Zealand Herald" says.:— " There is only one adequate explanation of Mr Epwlds's choosing the present moment for resigning, that he considers it wiser to await tho inevitable disintegration of the existing Liberal Party and the downfall of the Ward Cabinet to tho hope of returning to office as a New Zealand Lloyd George. It is easy to prophesy that the corollary of what will practically be a third party .will be an ultimate coalition between the moderates of all political denominations. The resignation of Mr Fowlds is visible proof that the long-expected and inevitable collapse of old political paxties has commenced and that in the coming elections anything may happen." WELLINGTON, September 5. The "New Zealand Times" says:— ''There has clearly been no difference of a private character between Mr Fowlds and his chief. The former's frank statement to the contrary discounts in advance any theory on that score. The point at issue rests entirely upon political principle, and what the principle is can only be fully determined when the ' new evangel' has been expounded in greater detail. From the brief outline of the evangel given by Mr Fowlds last night to one of our parliamentary reporters - it may be taken for granted that the single tax is at the bottom of the severance announced yesterday afternoon. Mr Fowlds is an ardent believer in the doctrines of Henry George. Sir Joseph Ward is pot. In that simple statement is the key to the situation. Mr Fowlds would apparently have remained in tho Ministry had the Prime Minister committed himself to a policy of increasing the taxation .of land and with the revenue so raised reducing railway freights and abolishing all duties on the necessaries of life. Some sections of tho community may see in Mr Fowlds's retirement * a Cabinet crisis,' but those whoso estimate of publio affairs is not warped by partisanship will find it difficult to discover anything more disconcerting than that Mr Fowlds has doomed it expedient to seek converts to the new in the electorates rather than in tho Cabinet room." The "Dominion" says:—"The resignation of the Hon G. Fowlds of his office as a member of the Ward Government has caused rather a flutter in political circles, but his secession is merely a sign of the times. The eyes of the pubhc have been opened to the evils whioh have -grown out of an Administration absolutely lacking in guiding principles and animated only by selfish personal and party interests, and Mr Fowkls is shrewd enough to know that it is time to stand from under. He knows quite well that the Ward party hns very nearly run tho length of its tether, that its best friends and staunchest supporters in past years are thoroughly disgusted with it and satjjy disheartened, that it is split with internal dissension, that members distrust their leaders, and that their leaders disagree amongst themselves and are divided on vital questions of policy, that thoy are clinging together with one purpose and one only, tho sojfish desire to retain offico with its emoluments and privileges. And so Mr Fowlds, en the eve of a general election, ' scuttles from the shilling ship,' to use a phrase which he anticipates will be applied to him." The paper goes on to remark that it was ofiily natural that Mr Fowlds should attempt to defend the maladministration of the Government, for has he not been amember of that Government for a number of years P But he damns it absolutely m his declaration that whenever a truly democratic party, pledged to definite principles end ready to uVht for them, arises it will have hi 3 wholehearted support. He knows, as the whole country knows, that the Ward I Administration is not, and never lias I been, such a party Th «« m Dt ™ErilN. September 5. t„ +i, 9^ S °, ? ail - v Mmes," referring to the political situation, fastens on Mr I FowJds s statement that the division on *?«*,-? OT ; n / lan f 11 »S Bi " was symptomatic of dissatisfaction in the Ministerial party and that the Government, unable to command sufficient supoort ! in Parliament to carrv out its fun-- ! turns reasonably, has lost its It says that the fee-ling in tho House ' reflects that in the countrv where it is recognised that tho Government has lost its capacity for usefulnars. It disregards, however, the ostensible reason for the resignation and aro;ues that Mr Fowlds's declaration of his future inis a cutting indictment bared on first information of the opportunism' ■ of the_ Government. Such a speech delivered at such a time, en the ore of a general election, cannot fail to confirm the electors in the belief that the Government is devoid of political prin- i ciple and that the interests of the : country will bnst bo served by its re- , . moval from office. The "Time"" fur- f _ther contends tJi-vt the only present \

alternative to a Ward Government is a Massey Government. It pays a tribute- to Mr Fowlds as a, Successful administrator. [Per Ptugss Association.] DTJNEDTN, September 5. At a meeting of tho Dunedin branch of tho Labour Party to-night the following motion wr.s carried:—"This branch desire:; to offer to the Hon G. Fowlds sincere congratulations for tho position ho has taken up in separating himself from the and to record its entire appreciation of the reason for the step taken by the honourable gentleman, and wishes him many years of successful political work in the" future." Three cheers were given for Mr Fowlds.