WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14865, 16 December 1911, Page 8

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY.

THE DEFEAT OF STALWART LIBERALS. "A MESSAGE AND A WARNING." [BY TELEGRAM.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. "Our first duty this morning," says tho New Zealand Times, "is to express a very sincere regret that tho battle which concluded yesterday removed from the political arena, at least temporarily, more than one stalwart Liberal who had done valuable service in the people's cause. It would bo idle to suggest that the voting carries no message or warning to the Liberal party. A section of the people havo cloarly expressed tKoir displeasure with certain phases of the Government's administration and policy. Of that there can be no reasonable doubt, and it is the business of the Liberal party to profit from tho lesson and put its houso in order accordingly. The voico of tho people as expressed at the ballot box is in some measure incoherent, and where it has been given clearly can hardly be accepted oven by the Opposition as a definite preference for certain fixed policies."

"The Downfall of Wardism." " Tho country has every reason for congratulation at the downfall of Wardism," says the Dominion. "From whatever point of view tho situation is regarded the outstanding fact remains that tho pledged followers of tho Ward Administration are in ii dccided minority in the now Parliament. They wont to the polls 45 strong. They came from them with their numbers reduced to 32. Tho Reform party went to tho polls with 25 straight-out supporters and comes back with 37. Hero we have in plain figures tho reply of the country to tho evils and abuses which havo grown up under Wardism. Tho question which the public will be asking to-day is what the outcome of tho elections will be. Sir Joseph Ward says he can be relied on to do tho proper thing. Tho proper thing from his point of view will no doubt bo to endeavour to square tho Labour members, and in order to do this there will probably bo a further sacrifice of the principles which Liberalism once stood for, but this will not get tho Government out of its trouble. Thero are members of the party who will not be inclined to yield meekly, and when Parliament meets a split is almost inevitable, and some members at present classed as Government are practically certain to desert from tho ranks of the Ministerialists. Moreover, it is impossible to conceive that tho present Ministry of mediocrities would satisfy tho Labour members, and any change which might bo made would bo certain to cause trouble. Whichever way the situation is looked at, no arrangement of a lasting nature is possible. Qn the other hand, Mr. Massoy may find that there are a sufficient number of the Labour and Independent candidates willing to ensure him an absolute majority for the time being, m which case ho may notify tho Prime Minister and His Excellency tho Governor and demand an early session of Parliament to test tho question." " Where are Now My Lost Legions?" "To-day," says tho Wellington Post, "the Opposition is counting its gain and the Government is counting its slain. One can picture the shade of Seddon surveying a stricken field and whispering such words as Augustus Caesar uttered when the troops of tho proconsul Varus wore routed: 'Hestore mo my legions. Where are now my lost legions?' Tho Government has been sorely rebuffed, and if tho Ministry manages to get an advantago in the final reckoning of the new members it can bo only a slight and precarious one. Tho second day of battle went against Sir Joseph Ward as the first had gone. Tho echoes of the captains' shouting aro still in the air, tho sounds of the clash still reverberate over the political field. The Opposition has enjoyed a memorable success, but ban not achieved a victory to crush tho Ministerialists." CHRISTCHUROH COMMENTS. OPPOSITION THE STRONGER. [BY TELEGRAPH. — CORRESPONDENT.] CimiSTCHUHCH, Friday. The Lyttelton Times says: —"It appears likely that the Government will have to depend upon a nominal majority of four, the four Maori members in fact, and wo fully think that Sir Joseph Ward will not elect to . retain office with such a narrow margin of uncertain support. Wo should not care to do so ourselves if we were in his position. We should prefer to allow Mr. Massey to meet the new House, which cannot endure for more than a session, and to get to the country again as speedily as possible, with the clear-cut issues that should divide the two parties. It would be simply a waste of time and of temper and prestige to attempt to pass progressive legislation with a majority which might fade away at any critical moment. Except in actual numbers, and in Parliamentary experience and ability, the Opposition holds the stronger position in tho House, whatever may. be its position in the country. The members are a compact body of voters, who will not bo diverted from their allegience to the leader of the party in the hour of his triumph. They were not elected to harbour any high ideals of independence. The Government party, on the contrary, contains several gentlemen who might find it convenient to give a very emphatic expression to their preference' for measures rather than men. When returning thanks to the electors last night, Mr. Russell, for instance, laid stress on the fact that, having received support from the Conservatives, as well as from the Liberals, lie would feel it his duty to assist in passing legislation for the good of the country, from whichever side of the House it might come. Probably there are other members of the party who will feel during the strenuous days that are before us that they should be aJlowed the same latitude. The plain truth is that the revolt of the Labour party has given the Conservatives the opportunity, and they have seized it with an avidity that cannot bo denied or, for the moment, resisted. Tho progressive parties can recover their old dominant position as soon as they care to bury their differences, and put their house in order, and in tho meantime thero is no need for recrimination or despondency."

Massey Should Hold His Own. The Christchurch Press says:— "Throughout the length and breadth of the country we believe there will be rojoicing this morning over the fact that the Government have been defeated and Wardism is at an end. The Government have managed to secure only 32 supporters, while there are 38 members pledged to support Mr. Massey. Of four Labour members two at anyrato have given an undertaking to vote against the Government on a want of confidence motion. In addition, there are three members who declared themselves as .Independents. There are 76 European members in the House, and out of these 40 are pledged to vote against the Government on a want of confidence motion.. There is, of course, the disturbing factor to be faced that three Maori members have still to be elected, and it remains to be seen how the Independent members will range themselves. The feeling against the Government, however, is so strong and so clearly expressed that we believe Mr. Massey will not have much difficulty in forming a Ministry which will be able to hold its own." In another article, the Christchurch Press says Looking to the not-distant future, when, as we believe,, Mr. Massey will be called upon to submit his detailed policy

as Prime Minister to the House and the country, we feel sure of one thing, and that is that it will be no reactionary policy. It must be broad, sympathetic, and progressive, or else the Reform party will not remain very long in power, and will not deserve to do so."

Dissolution Cannot be Avoided. To-night's Star, the evening Ministerial organ in Christchurch, says:-—"The assembling of Parliament in January would be perfectly constitutional, and it would definitely set at rest any doubt as to the state of the House, but the bold and proper course, we assert without hesitation, is for the Liberals to make the full concession to their opponents, and to resign • at the earliest possible moment. We do not see how a dissolution is to be avoided, for it cannot be to the interests of the country that three years or one year should be spent in ineffective wrangling, and the interests of the country must be tho paramount consideration." dunedin OPINIONS.

WILL THE GOVERNMENT RESIGN? [B* telegram.—own CORRESPONDENT.] Dunedin, Friday. The. Otngo Daily Times, after analysing the election results, asks : Will the Government resign ? That is a practical question, about which the public will to-day bo curious. >. It is plain, though Sir Joseph Ward professes his inability at present to see it, that Ministers aro in a minority. When every allowance is mado in their favour they cannot muster one half of the new House. The established practice for the past' 30 years in Homo, politics has been that when a'vote of tho electorates is unfavourable to the Government the Prime Minister does not wait for formal expulsion from office by Parliament before ho tenders his resignation. The custom at one time was certainly for tho Government to accept its dismissal only from Parliament assembled. Mr. Disraeli departed from this custom in 1868. and the precedent that was then established by him has been followed ever since in British politics, and has been observed also in the Dominion. If, however, Sir Joseph Ward is not immediately prepared to accept tho votes of the electors as notice to tho Government to quit, it. is clear that Parliament should be summoned to meet at. the earliest possible date in order that j it may havo an opportunity of expressing Its judgment on tho question, whether the present Ministers are to be allowed to continue in office.

. Mr. Millar's- Ambition. The Evening Star to-night agrees that the right thing will be to call Parliament together in January. The only condition that could warrant a postponement till the middle of the year would be a clear assurance on the part of a majority of the members that they would bo prepared to support the Government on a want-of-con-fidence motion. Such an assurance is hardly likely to bo forthcoming. _ The Star goes on" to say that the signal victory of the Minister for Railways, taken in conjunction with some other indications of public feeling, points to tho likelihood that at no very distant date ho may realise the honourable ambition to which ho recently alluded. Sir Joseph Ward's unmistakable loss of popularity, the defeat of Mr. Fowlda and Sir John Findlny's relegation to private life, . will certainly not bo a hindranco to Mr. Millar's advantage.

"NO DECENT WORKING MAJORITY." HON. J. A. MILLAR'S VIEW. [BY TELEGRArH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Dt;nedin, Friday. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Railways, interviewed this morning, said : " As things are at present, there appears to be little chance of any party having a decent working majority. It is, however, impossible to come to a. definite conclusion on the figures at present." MR. MASSEY COULD CARRY ON. MR. JAMES ALLEN'S OPINION. [BY . TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Friday. Mr. James Allen says it is the clear duty of Sir Joseph Ward to call Parliament together immediately. In that case a no-confidence motion would be passed. Without doubt Mr. Massey would be able to carry on, but if such were not tho case, another election was inevitable. He did not think the country would stand that. Mr. G. if. Thomson agreed, adding that if the Ministry attempted to fill the High CommissioneTship "or appoint Legislative Councillors the Governor should assert his prerogative.