The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7869, 3 August 1911, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS

From present appearances the political situation in New South Wales is going from bad to worse. The DeputyGovernor was presented with something like a puzzle last week, and, although he has not escaped criticism, it is difficult to see how' he could have improved on his decisions. A no-confidence motion on the land question was rejected by five votes, but the developments following included a Ministerial loss of two Independents hitherto voting with the Government—who joined the Opposition after the division—and the resignation of two Labour members. The acting-Premier naturally desired an adjournment until after the by-elec-tions caused by the resignations, but the state of parties had become so even (one division had been decided by the Speaker’s casting vote) that, apparently, Mr Holman dared not risk inviting the Assembly to make the adjournment He therefore asked the Deputy-Governor to prorogue Parliament, but the request was cdeclinecd, the Deputy-Governor no doubt holding that the House should first have an opportunity to decide the point. The Ministry then resigned, and Mr Wade was commissioned to form a Cabinet. He asked for a dissolution, and this being refused he gave up the task, remaining in the cold shades of Opposition. An impasse having been reached, the Deputy-Governor asked Mr Holman and his colleagues to withdraw their resignations, and offered then to grant the prorogation they previously sought. On these terms the administrative business of the State was enabled to proceed. It is not at all likely, however, that the pending by-elections, whichever side they favour, will end the difficulty. The two parties will still be so numerically even that the fate of the Government—Wade or McGowen—must hang continually in the balance. No legislative work of importance can proceed under circumstances of that character. An early general election will no doubt be the solution. The Labourites will fight the party calling itself Liberal (“ Conservative ” seems to be altogether too unpopular nowadays) under rather a severe handicap. Mr Neilsen proposed, as Minister of Lands, to repeal an Act of 1908 under which holders of land under certain leasehold tenures have the right to convert to the freehold. This, in pursuance of a policy that no more Crown lands should be alienated, is understandable, whatever may be, thought of the merits of the policy. The surprising thing is that Mr Neilsen would not accept a clause to safeguard existing contracts. He feels so strongly on this point that ho asked to bo relieved of his portfolio several weeks ago, and again a fortnight since, only consenting to continue in office, at the request of his colleagues, until the Premier’s return from abroad. Before Mr McGowen reached home, however, the Opposition had made this the test question that led the Assembly into its present maze. The caucus has since insisted upon insertion in the Conversion Act Repeal Bill of a clause to ensure the safety of existing bargains between the State and its tenants, and Air Neilsen has resigned in consequence. The party, as a party, has thus put itself right with the constituencies on a point of common honesty, but the incident can hardly fail to injure the political fortunes of Labour.