THE COALITION PROPOSAL

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13329, 31 July 1915, Page 6

THE COALITION PROPOSAL

CONFERENCE PAILS TO EVENTUATE KUALOUBS IN TICK LOBBJEH. PUbIPONEMLNT TILli MONDAY ])y 'Klostnpli-Special to "Tho Times." WELLINGTON, July JO 'llu (uiiluiiKt between the ic'pie smlitius ot both sides ol the House and the Go\cinoi, wlmli Mas li\ed toi U|d,n dd not cMiituati, although no 11 ison \\ is gnui ioi the postponement Jt is piobiblc tint the le liters, will be biought togethei on Monday All kinds ot niniouis aie lloatmg about the lobbies concerning the coali tion One gioup M\s tlieie is no ili.iuec ot sinccv. ioi the pioposiil Othei ciitus in nut mi tint thcic is c\en likelihood ot .111 aiiingemcnt being < 01111 to Jt has been said tint the I'limt Mm istor is to- take over the portfolio of JMcnee, and that of., Finance will' be 'offered'to Sir. Joseph Ward} but.there are few. who' will take this as being near .the mark, although Mr uMasscyV taking over the war'Dcpartment is held to be .quite a gooit guess. ■ •

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION.

TWO WIDELY OPPOSITE VIEWS.

MAJOIUTY'LOOK FOR J'AILUEE OF NEGOTIATIONS. By Tdlosrnpli.—Special to "Th« Timei.", WELLINGTON, July 30. , Mtuiv reasons, are advanced, by mom■hers about the House why the proposition -put forward by-the Government ■-should be accepted by'tlic Opposition. •It- is held that the present;is not:the ; time to eousidcr anything ; but' the waiv All Party interests should be at rest for the time being, and it should not!'.matter to the Liberals'what portfolios ave offered to them, so long as'they Jake ■part in the conduct of the affairs' of the country inside the; Cabinet. < ■

Tim fact that no portfolio concerning 1 war had- been offered them should not weigh in their judgment. If they c|c.siref! to further the interests of the Dominion in its darkest hours, they should be prepared to-, respond to the call of the Prime Minister and immo : diately assist in the formation; of ji fusion-Government to.push on war legislation «M interests. . It, should not matter to the Opposition whether Sir Joseph Ward was Prime Minister or Minister for the C'ook/lslaiicls. 1 He was wanted in the Cabinet aiid there .was aii end to iti ... ....

Members of the Opposition, have different .views -nltogeflicr.'-y.l'liey ask, what is the us.c of joining a Coalition Cabinet for the purpose .of assisting in' the. management of the war when there 'iire no war .portfolios available for them, The position : would be anomalous. - If could hot possibly fissist the war for Mr Arthur Meyer's to be Miiiist.e.i:,of 'Railways or Sir Joseph Ward to be Postmaster-General, or Mr MjcNab to ibe/Ministcrof -Lands. Ifthe Government Jeterinined to ~hang,„to( all;.the portfolios ■ api;taiiiingi«to the. war, t,heh with : - the whole iiialter tliiiiiis'eiveS.''.' The;iLiberals knew .just ; jvliy they were wanted in. the" Cabinet and it was from •: no patriotic motives they hcic asked to ,10111. The Government ms lookng tortile iutuic, and "\\hat might o«oui on the hustings'in lion lwfh wai-tuxabou'wlieiL they made tlieoffor. ,• J s»»^' w '' Such "jilt, indications/ Of to'w the | oibdth sides oi'the House j Ah to toali'tioVi/' it conies off, 1 quite ,t lot ot meiubeis oi Pailiumcut I ttlll 1)0 Blll'piJHCd. ) ,