STATE OF THE PARTIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 18 December 1914, Page 4

STATE OF THE PARTIES

OPINION OF< SIR, O'RORKE

MAURICE

(Special to "Mail."}

AUCKLAND.. This Day

The opinion of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, for twenty years the Speaker of the House, of Representatives, in regard to the present political, deadlock, was obtained by the. "Star'" yesterday. ■ ■ Sir Maurice observed that the political situation was a unique one, and personally lie was of opinion that it was a

gloious opportunity for the gentlemen who had no scruples in changing sides. Such a thing had occurred before, and might easily" happen again, although ,he did m-'t think it would be any of the leading men. That was the only hope of the' Government. Sir Maurice pointed out that there had been previous occasions on which the Government of the. country- had been carried on by a very' .slender majority; for instance, the first year he entered Parliament, Mr Pox's party, to which he belonged, had a majority of one, and turned out a .Government which had been in office for five years. Jt carried on for twelve months; but when an experimental session was tried in Wellington, it was defeated. ' In the event of there, being no turiiT coats at the present juncture, to enable the Government to resume office with a majority, continued Sir Maurice, the only course open would be for Mr Massey to resume office, and to elect his Speaker. This would leave him in a minority of one, and upon a. no-confidence vote being carried in the House the Government would have to resign, and Sir Joseph Ward assume office. Presumably he would follow precedent, and would not elect a, hew Speaker, and by that mtahs the Liberal Party would have a majority of one, the Speaker being deprived of a vote except in the event of a tie. "If the Government is anxious to ascertain its fate," continued Sir Maurice, "it might call the session much earlier; but I think I would be content to hold the reins until Parliament, meets."

Asked whether he. thought there should be some compromise in the event of a tie before the election of the Speaker, Sir Maurice said he did not think the idea practical. Personally,; he would rather see a Government endeavour to struggle on with a majority of one in preference to a formal session to pass some revision of the electoral 'law, followed by resignation. This would be better than forcing another election upon the country.