POLITICAL POSITION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 5

POLITICAL POSITION

COALITION URGED SIR JOHN FINDLAY GILES HIS OPINION. AVOIDING AN ELECTION. By Telegraph—Special to “Times.” TIMARU, January 10. Sir John Findlay, K.C., went to Tnnaru from Wellington yesterday, and in Tiew of the importance of the meeting of the Reform Party to be held in Wellington to-morro'v. and because Sir John was a former leading politician in New Zealand, he was sought by a representative of the • Timaru Herald” and asked whether he would say anything concerning the present state of political affairs in the Dominion. The visitor was disinclined to do this, saying that he was out of politics now and u.u not wish to appear to be interfering in other people’s affairs, but on being pressed to give his views concerning the present state of things he said: — LABOUR STANDS ALOOF. “In politics I am now merely an onlooker, having no inside or special knowledge of the actual political position in New Zealand to-day, but it seems perfectly clear that no one of the three parties returned at the last election can itself form a Government. Even a combination of the Liberal and .oabour sections would not provide a working majority for Governmental purposes. It is generally oonceded that no administration can do with a majority of less than four. If the combination suggested took place and a Speaker had to be found from its members it would not' have on present figures the requisite working majority, but in view of the unequivocal declarations of both the Liberal and Labour leaders prior to the election such a combination may be confidently ruled out of serious contemplation. ELECTION NOT WANTED.

“No reinforcement of the Reform Party by Labour members is possible. Is such a reinforcement probable from at least that section of the Liberal Party which has shown only a Hobson’s choice of Mr Wilford? It is impossible to say. Two facts may influence the position. It is clear that the great majority of the people of this country do not want another general election. The cost to the publicpurse is enormous, and to have another drain upon it in our present financial depression for a second election within a few weeks of the last would he resented by the electorates. Moreover, the loss is not confined to the public purse. The holiday which our electoral law enforces on polling-day upon oar industries, and the expense of the candidates and their friends, all spell out national waste. I believe that the electors of the Dominion are strongly against another appeal to them. “The second fact is that members do not want a repetition in a few weeks of the bitterness of turmoil, the struggle and the expense of another contest. Both these facts aje potent in their influence, and may he relied upon to avert another general election if there is any possible way of avoiding it.

AVOIDING AN ELECTION. “But it is impossible to avoid it unless there is either an Alliance between the Reform and Liberal parties, or a reinforcement of the former by as many members of the latter as will give Mr Massey a working majority. He has bv far the largest party in the present House, and the addition of five members to his ranks would give him the numerical strength required for a stable Government. The policies of the two parties have steadily converged upon each other. There is now really little that materially separates them, and some kind of concord between them seems the best solution of the present impasse. I believe, at any rate, that this country would prefer such a concordat to another general election, which would probably reproduce the present situation in a more aggravated form.” MR MASSEY’S POSITION. Asked concerning the position of the Prime Minister in retaining office for the present without a majority in the House, Sir John said the position was stated in Hakbnry’a “Laws of England,” volume 7, page 37, and the following pages. Here the position would be found summarised ae follows: “It is recognised that the continuance of a Ministry in office is ultimately dependent upon the support of the electorates, and where these declare a majority against the Government, it is Usual for the Ministry either to resign immediately or to wait until the House meets and an adverse vote has been carried. Instances of the coarse followed when an administration has suffered a defeat at the polls are as- follows: In 1868, the resignations of the third Derby and first Disraeli Administrations were handed in upon an adverse verdict at the polls before the meeting of Parliament. Of subsequent Ministries, three, the first Gladstone Ministry in 1874, the second Disraeli Ministry in 1880, and the third Gladstone Ministry in 1886, retired immediately upon an advene verdict at the polls, while in three cases, namely, the first and second Salisbury Ministries, in 1886 and 1892, and the last {{aiding precedent, the Balfour Ministry in 1906, though returned in a minority, waited a vote of want-of-confldence in the House before resigning.” NO UNIFORM RULING. Continuing, Sir John said it would be seen from this that there is no uniform constitutional rule on the point, and that Mr Massey was, therefore, entitled to retain office until the meeting of the House. Although the general election left his party without a majority, it should be remembered, Sir John added, that Ministers are appointed by the King, and are not the servants of tho House. Although ultimately their continuance in office is de6 indent upon the goodwill of the ouse, there were several instances in England where Ministers, though defeated at the polls, had continued in office for some considerable time afterwards. On one occasion, Mr Gladstone had done so for several months. MR WITTY’S POSITION EFFECT OF HIS PROBABLE ATTITUDE. The article appearing in yesterday’s ‘Times’ * in reference to the political situation has. caused considerable discussion, and in the same connection as the above the name of Mr G. Witty has been mentioned. Mr Witty has indicated that he will vote for the present Government on * a no-confidence motion, and if Mr Statham is appointed Speaker, and Colonel Bell (Bay of Islands) goes into the lobby with the Massey Party, the position will be that i the Government will have a small work- I tng majority. I