THE "PROPER COURSE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 10

THE "PROPER COURSE."

1; DUTY 'THE GOVERNMENT. The Wellington Post (a non-party paper), which docs not agree- that the result of .the .elections is definitely in favour of Mr., Masseyr. take 3 the following view of the present situation :-—'>' Yes-No verdict which has actually been rendered is difficult to interpret, and should the task prove impossible there : will -be nothing for it ..but a. new trial. * In spite of the ambiguity it will, of course, be possible for the Premier to retain office until Parliament, summoned at the end of June, in ordinary course,; decides that he should go. lint constitutional propriety, , a regard for. public opinion, ;,and his own sense. of fairplay, must all tell Sir. Joseph Ward that, though" Bitch a; .course would be possible, it would not be right. .The. country's, verdict being ambiguous, the tribunal that must ;tal«>' : the responsibility of deciding what it means is the House of Representatives; and the- position of the Government would be retrospectively that of usurpers for six months.+. it", deprived: of any previous-op-portunity of speaking, the House decided in June that the. • country'* verdict • was against them. The proper course is clearly to 1 summon Parliament as soon as it can ;be conveniently arranged after the.Christinas holidays, and to have the fate of the Ooyeirment determined fit onco by the people's Representatives-." : - " : .-;■-; ■