MS FOWLDS' RESIG NATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9609, 7 September 1911, Page 5

MS FOWLDS' RESIG NATION.

SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION, [By Telegraph.] : (By Oob Pabliamentaby Rewbteb.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6., Members of the Government ptrty still refuse to talk for publication (under their names' about (lie effect ot Mr Fowlds' resignation. Several, however, express their toolings in private somewhat, freely, and gom-raily speaking they are not very favourable lo Air Fowkls' action

Mi" MacUoiialcl. the Government's Junior Whip, however, has from his sick bed given Mr Fowlds. an unsolicited testimonial as a very strong man. a, man of great ability and a hard woiker. He possessed, ■ says the Government Whip, high ideals, and threw his whole soul into (ho administration of his Departments. "J feel convinced that education lias lost a very great friend and capable adpiinistrator in Mr Fowkls, He also took very great interest and put a tremendous lot of hard work into hospital management. 1 think it must bi; recognised by all that he has exorcised a great deal of setf-sacri-Jico of his own personal views on various subjects that he felt strongly on." Apparently Ihe order to maintain a discreet silence did not reach Mr Mac Donald in the hospital. An old Parliamentary hand expresses I lie opinion (hat Mr Fowlds showed very little- consideration in making his announcement, at the present juncture. This member 'suggested that there are a dozen members in the present Independent and Liberal ranks and two members _ of r iie Opposition who will go over with Mr Fowkls and form a Radical Party. This statement is, however,, manifestly absurd, It. is very questionable whether thcro arc. at present any Government, supporters ready to hive oil', and the Opposition is beyond all doubt a solid party with its prospects brightening every day

COALITION IMPOSSIBLE. Very litlle is hoard now about the old coalition cry which seems to be as dead as Julius Caesar. I mentioned it to one prominent Oppositionist 10-day and he remarked that the Opposition stood for Iho principles they had enunciated and lliey would fraud 'by them. "Besides," said this member, "there is.scarcely anyone in tin; Cabinet to coalesce with. We toulri not join bands with Sir James Carroll. Mr Roderick McKcnzie is imposrsible. From our point of view Mr Bltddo does not count at all and Sir Joseph Ward with his new hereditary title would lie a handicap to any truly Liberal Reform Parly. 'Mr Millar is the only man who appears to command the confidence of the country and with whom we could work, and he is not likely to bother much about politics after the next general election. If he docs contest the election in December it will in all probability bo his last political fight. No," added this member. "You may take it from me that the Opposition will go to the poll as a solid party and with a bigger tl ance of success than ever before."

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS. One member, who is intimately acquainted with the inner working of tho Ministry, has staled to a Post reporter that Mr Vow-Ids' resignation did not surprise him at all. Seeing that h eis a man of means, that ho high ideals and that his continuance in-the Cabinet had been at the cost of the sacrifice of some of his most cherished views. This member states that Mr Fowlds could not possibly approve of tho action of some of his late colleagues in the Ministry. Ho went on to say: "Tho 'ault of Sir Joseph Ward's Administration, however, is that lie has not kept in touch witli his party. There have been no caucuses except' on rare occasions. The members .of the Ministry with on o or two exceptions have not fraternised in the Whip's room. Thov have held themselves aloof Thero is a' feeling, too. that details of local Government have been sacrificed for Imperial affairs. I '' The Post remarks on the fact, that the Hon. Mr Fowlds has absented himself from several public gatherings in Wellington held in honour of Sir Jf.mes Carroll Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findlav, and that fact gives rise to tho suggestion in the minds of some that tho Minister's departure is connected with tho honours conferred on those three colleiguos of his in the Cabinet; It has however, all along been generally recognised that he has never been in favour of tho extreme methods adopted, chiefly by Sir Joseph Ward, in meeting tho attacks of Ihe Opposition. His own methods were entirely different, By argument and appeal to reason ho endeavoured'to conirovort the views of those opposed to him and when fiercer fighting tactics were adopted he was never among the mast prominent of the Ministerial pwt.V unless he or one of his departments was prise him at all. Seeing that he is a

A SEATLESS EX-MINISTER,

Mr Fowlds has not yet settled clown into a new seat in the Chamber. Ho, of course, vacates the r.nt he occupied on the Ministerial Benches, When lie entered the House this afternoon ho saf bosicio Mr Poole, but Mr Russell called him up to share half of his settee, remarking that Mr Laurcnson, his benchmate, was absent for tho day.