CABINET RELATIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9721, 25 July 1917, Page 6

CABINET RELATIONS

A CONTRETEMPS MU MASSEY ALLEGES WIREPULLING. WILL NOT PUT UP WIPE IT. 1 The mysterious whisperings about dissensions in the National Cabinet were made more interesting by certain inference in tho House of Representatives yesterday by Mr G- W. Forbes, member for Hurunui. Mr Forbes referred to the fact that Sir John Findlay had made reference to this dissension. He pointed out that the working of tho National Government depended on the loyal co-operation of both sides of tho House. In a friendly way he would ask Mr. Massey if he was interpreting the spirit of union entered into by the parties of the House in the manner he should. Personally, he had supported tho National Government, on the understanding that both parties would be treated with every consideration. In saying this he did not wish to lead to any trouble that might shipwreck the National Government. The only Government at the present time should be a national one. - WHY WAS HE ABSENT?

Mr Forbes, continuing, said that he had noticed that the Minister for Fjnanco had not been present at tho recent Second Division deputation. This was unfortunate, as the views exchanged would have been most valuable to him. Personally, he had never heard a deputation place its views, so clearly and concisely before the Ministers. It was indeed unfortunate that Sir Joseph was not there. Mr Wilford: “His presence was asked for in a letter.”

Mr Forbes: “I am very sorry that tho Minister was not there. I think be was under a distinct disadvantage.” ‘ Mr Massey asked permission to clear up the matter. He was always anxious, and always gave full facility for the attendance of a Minister .at any deputation. The responsibility did not rest with him in tho matter. Mr • Massey said his secretary had informed him that the night before the deputation took place he had a note sent up to Sir Joseph Ward asking him to ho present at the deputation. LIBERALS AND THE COST OF LIVING.

Mr Fortes supported the action taken by tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, as Minister-in-Charge of the Board .of Trade, with regard to fixing tho price of butter and putting a levy of Jd a lb on butter-fat to provide a fund to equalise matters as between the exporters and the local suppliers of butter. The people had complained strongly a,t the inaction of the National Government in regard to the cost of living, and Mr MacDonald was to be commended for his prompt action in the matter. It was felt that Mr Massey, in replying to the butter-fat deputations, had not supported his Liberal colleague .as he should have done. Members on that side of the House felt that the Board of Trade, which had been set up to deal with the coat of living, was one of the departments that might have been,left in tho hands of one of the Liberal members of the Cabinet. He did not say that Mr MacDonald had given entire satisfaction in that connection, but he had given enough satisfaction to dispel a good deal of the agitation that had accrued in the absence of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance. One of the stipulations made when the Liberal members wont into the National Cabinet was that legislation should be passed in regard to the cost of living, and they thought that it would have been interpreting "that compact properly if a Liberal Minister had been placed in charge of tho department created as a result of that understanding. A member: “There is no Liberal Party nowl” . Mr Fortes; “It is|no good saying that. There is a Liberal Party.” Ho wanted, he added, to allay tho rumours about dissensions in tho Cabinet, because Cabinet could not do the work they ought to do if there was not the unity and co-operation that there ought to he. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. Nosworthy (Ashburton): “You should have u general election. That-is what you should have.”

ATTORNEY-GENERAL EXPLAINS

Later in the afternoon the AttorneyGeneral, the Hon. A, L. Herdman, had some remarks to make about the alleged Cabinet dissensions. Mr Forbes had suggested, said Mr Herdman, that the Government should take tho members more into their confidence and that a secret session should bo held. Such sessions had been held at Home, only that the members of Parliament might have imparted to them information it would not bo wise to give to the general public. There was no necessity for a secret session in New Zealand. At any rate, Cabinet was present every day in tho House to discuss matters with members. Mr Forbes: “But why tho reservation?” Mr Herdman; “There is no reservation.” , .. ~ i A member inquired how was it that no statement had been heard in the House from the Cabinet. Mr Herdman: “You must remember that we have only been sitting three weeks. If members want information, why don't they ask tor Mr Poole (Auckland West): "We want to help you.” Mr Herdman: “I believe that. Mr Forbes: “But when we criticise the Government later over its measures, we will be accused of making an attack on the Government.’ Mr Herdman: “Criticise the Government as much as y°n P* ea f e - , impart? a chccriness to political lite to hear critical speeches.” (Laughtei.) SMILES ON THEIR FACES.

Later Mr Herdman said he thought it was a pity that criticism should be levelled at the Government for alleged Cabinet dissensions. The allegations were unfounded. Mr Massey had given every consideration to members, and allegations such' as these would only widen any breach. Mr Herdman added: “Mr Massey and Sir Joseph left here with smiles on their taces. They have sailed ronnd the globe and returned with smiles on their faces. Mr Payne (Grey Lynn): : “And, why shouldn’t they?” (Laughter.) Mr Herdman: ‘(And every member of the Cabinet is doing his utmost ’ Mr Witty (Riccarton); “For himself.”

Mr Herdman; “It is a pity that there is .such criticism.'’

Mr Payne: “I thought you liked criticism.” (Laughter.) Mr Herdman added that notwithstanding the fact that the members of the Cabinet had been of different parties, they were non- working amicably together. Air PaVne (smiling): “ics, they are a happy family.” WIRE-PULLING GOING ON. Later (just before the adjournment of the House) the Prime Minister said that ho wished to correct a mistake he had made earlier in the sitting when the hon. member for Hurunui had said that he was informed that tho Finance Minister had not been invited to attend the deputation of the Second Division men. His secretary (Mr Thompson) had then told him that a written communication had been sent to Sir Joseph Ward’s secretary notifying him that Sir Joseph Ward had been invited to attend tho deputation; but since then Mr Thompson had informed him that he had confused that deputation with an important deputation that was to wait upon him on the following morning. Tho Second Division deputation had expressed a desire to sec the Finance Minister and the Minister for Defence as well as himself. and Mr Thompson stated that in conversation with Mr Armstrong (the president of the Second Division League) ho had arranged ■ that the invitations to the two Ministers should be sent by tho league. That arrangement was mad© because it had been ■ made a rule that invitations to other Ministers to be present should como from the people who formed the deputations. He could not take any responsibility as to who should be invited, but he was very pleased that any Ministers, especially the Minister for Finance, should be present if the deputations desired it. He regretted what had happened. He regretted that the Finance Minister had pot had an opportunity of being present at the deputation; and he also regretted that the hon. member for Hurunui had not mentioned the matter to him before bringing it. up in the House in that way. Mr G. Witty (Ricearton): “Seeing that it is a dual Ministry, should not tho two Ministers be there all the time?” “NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH IT.”

Mr* Massey declared that there had been a very unfair attempt to place him in a false position. There had been a great ‘ deal of wire-pulling gO7 ing on during tho last week or two, and he was not going to put up with it, 1 and perhaps members would find that out in a short time. If Mr Forbes had coriie him and explained matters no difficulty would have arisen. ■

Mr Forbes said that the reason he made the statement referred to by the Prime Minister was that Mr AVilford, who had been the chairman at the meeting with the Second Division League had told him that whatever business had to be done with tho two Ministers would be done between the Whips (Mr Guthrie and himself) and Mr AVilford, as chairman of the meeting. ''He went to the room where tho deputation was held and found it was crowded. He, therefore, camo back to tho House and saw Sir Joseph AVard and asked him if he had had a notice of the meeting. He replied “No.” Air Massey had been sitting alongside tho "Finance Minister and had left tho House to attend the denutation. ’ They on that side of the House looked upon Sir Joseph AVard as their leader in the Cabinet, and they felt that ho should have been present at a meeting of such importance, especially as it had a great deal 1 6 do with finance matters. He had not mentioned to Sir Joseph AVard that he was going to bring tho matter up in the House; but ho had brought it up so that the Prime Minister might understand the feeling of irritation that had arisen on that side of the House because of wfhmt they Regarded as slights on members from that side of the House who occupied seats in the Cabinet. He had asked for a secret session, and. that wag one of the things that he thought should have been discussed at such a meeting. Air Witty: “All we want is fair play. AVe recognise that Sir Joseph Ward is on an equal footing with you, and we feel that in the . case of any deputations he ought to bo there. There is no wire-pulling so far as wo are concerned.” STATEMENT BY FINANCE AIINISTER.

Sir Joseph Ward said that h© tv as much obliged for the . explanation made by the Prime Minister; and he wanted to say that he had had no knowledge, directly or indirectly, of th© intention of the hon. member for Hurunui to say anything about the matter in the House that afternoon. He bad no know-ledge either-that he was expected to be present at the deputation ; and he was glad to have the opportunity to make that explanation because he found that some of the men who were at the deputation misunderstood the position and thought that he had refrained from attending the deputation for reasons connected with, their request. ■ If he had known that he was invited, ho would have been very pleased to have been present to hear what the deputation had to say on a matter of importance, not only to them, but to the country as a whole. The statement had made it clear that no invitation to attend the deputation had reached him.

Mr Massey: “It is very satisfactory so far as it has gone, and 1 am very glad that Sir Joseph Ward feels that there was no intention on my part to keep him away from the deputation. I am always glad to have any Minister, especially the Finance Minister, with me.” He added that he did not know how many deputations he had had to see during the past few days. Mr O. J. Parr (Eden): “Too many I” Mr Massey said that it was a good many; hut he had been away and he felt that he ought to see as many as possible. Besides the deputations and the sittings of the House, three afternoons during the past week had been given to attempting to settle a strike that was still going on in Wellington. He had not intended to take the deputation in question on the day he took it; but he found that a number of the Second Division men were going away that evening and were disappointed at not having had the opportunity of explaining their views to him, and ho therefore put off some other business to meet them during the sitting of the House. His secre-tary-had been very much overworked lately, and that and the haste with which the deputation was arranged had perhaps had had something to do with the matter. Mr Witty; “The whole thing is that it is a co-partnership, and that is how the feeling arose.” - The incident then closed.