THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17711, 23 August 1919, Page 10

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

RESIGNATION OF LIBERAL MINISTERS. FOLLOWING THEIR LEADER. fMR WfftSSEY'S STATEMENT. LEGISLATION WHICH MUST ;• BE PASSED. (Per United Press Association.) .... WELLINGTON, August 22. In reply to further questions this mornBig, Mr Massey said ho could as yet make no statement us to tho reconstruction of .tho Ministry, which would take place in .the near future. There would, so far as he know, be no postponement of the session. -As to whether the session would bo short ,or long, ho could not say what members /would do. Ho wanted to do aa much business, aa possible in tho timo at his disposal, and there was plenty waiting. There was ■legislation which must be passed, and Parliament would be asked to deal with essen..tial'i measures. Besides Supply and the Ex- , piring Laws Continuance Bill, thero was the validation of the Peace Treaty. That would probably not take Ion;*, but it must be. done. The administration of Samoa would, not require much legislation, l>ut they wished to get it dealt with aa soon as possible. Tno Liberal Ministers are all following Siir_ Joseph Ward's lead, and tendering their designations. ....The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald to-day resigned the portfolios of Agriculture, Mines, State Fire Insurance, Tourists and Health Resorts, and Legislative. When .asked for a statement, he said:—"Anything 'I can do to help until thero is a reconstruction of the Ministry I am prepared to do. All the heads of departments aro very competent men, and no doubt Mr Massey •will get all tho assistance he requires from them."

The Hon. A. M. Myers has resigned the portfolios of Customs, Coal Control, and National Provident Fund. "I have followed my leader," was nil he said. The Hon. T. M. Wilford has resigned as Jaimster of Marine, Justice, and Stamp Duties. "I am going- back to work at my office in Stout street," waa his statement. 7T. e , J? on- G. W. Russell, Minister of Health, and Internal Affairs, said: When _ the National Government was formed in August, 1915, we entered it as members of the Liberal Party. It having e »??j decided that the Liberal Party shall ■withdraw the Government, I, of coutso, will retire under the arrangement was made four years ago. There ave several very important matters which I have been unable to clear tip, and consequently J,, shall not bo ready to present my resignauntil Monday next, By that time these, matters will nave been completed, and on, Monday next I ahall hand my resigna..tton. to his Excellency the Governor-general. More than this at present I do not feel disposed to say." The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education and Friendly Societies, said he was .tending m his resignation, and to-day was pnsjJy engaged endeavouring to clear up.

' ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS, w -NOTHING DEFINITE DONE I®T. MR MASSEyS MAJORITY. (Fbom Odb Own Correspondent.) 1 ' ... ~ WELLDTOTON, August 22. All Jie Liberal Ministers remaininir re■fwlll to t ay ' exception of Mr RusselL who will resign on Monday, and Mr. Hanan, who is expected to go out of (Piucß on Tuesday. --'No definite allocation of the vacant portsfohost has yet been made. ii .vSir James Allen is not taking any more TmdS k aJread y 6vcr-

Poli&e MaSSOy ® fe&o Finance and the

,'i.Sir Francs Bell is to take Internal Affairs and probably Education. Fortunately he is not at present heavily loaded, bo that he can take rather more than his .share of the extra work - Sir William Fraser will take Mines. jJVLr Hemes_ -will take Customs and -JVlanne, and it seems likely, although no such arrangement seems to have been made, that ho will also take over Coal Distribu-

—rrnT- will take Agriculture ■k 'L le ? T ® B £?st Office and the .i/epartment of Public flealth unaccounted $Dr, and they have not yet been placed. Mr Massey does not intend to make any -appointments to th© Ministry until after ,ie has met his party nest Wednesday. He may not then hasten to make new appointments, but he will almost certainly make Borne appointments then. There will probably not be 12 Ministers in the new Cabinet., It may be that the Ministers of the • present Cabinet who will be retiring will mot do so at once. These are questions s op which members of tho party may wish .to,, say something. ""Mr Massey's majority will be a very ®s aal i 1 OD 2- 1 It is believed with with Mr R. xieaton Rhodes in the House he will have a strength of 42, including the Speaker. ,lt is also fairly certain that some other <»nsnionly called Liberals, would not follow Sir Joseph Ward on a vote of no-confidence, but would refrain from vob> • jng No cm© knows what tho Labour men '.wall do.

- MR MASSEY'S DtFPICTILTTES. ;i. (Feb United Pkess Association.) -•'tw-'tw WELLINGTON. August 22. Mr Massey has mad© the following additional, statement: —The decision of Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues to retire irom the Government, and thereby terminfate the existence of the National Govern{irvent formed in 1915, under agreenKyit of the two principal parties in the House of • -representatives, was publicly announced >some months ago, but no intimation was gwtm then or since until th e mil inst. /.whether the consequent disruption was injterided to tako place before the session of corrvcned by the National Gov-?hm^ae-Ilt^or o 0 c ' cs P at A of business on the jdetn inst. Some of the most important ■puMic departments, such as Treasury, Pabho Health, Mining, Education, and :Justice have been, siace 1915, continuously undej/ tho control of those Ministers who .haje now i announced their resignations. Remaining- Ministers have not inter•yenod m tho internal work of such departrS??-? t3 ' Dor . m departmental policy except ;nr whero decisions of Cabinet have i been called for, and the present position is therefore, m respect of those departments, similar to .that which occurs on a change of Government, but with the grave exception that the remaining Ministers have not the time, always allowed to an incoming Government to make themselves acquainted "with the methods of the departments and the requirements of the country. I n reJ° ™ attcrs which those departments -Control, they arc called upon to meet Parliament m lesn than a week henoe, and ■assunjo responsibihty i'or the work of Jnanv girths past without the aid of the several -Mnnsfccra who have directed it. WELLINGTON PRESS OPINION. RESIGNATION NOT WELL RECEIVED. f .,. /Fbom Oub Own Cohkkspondknt ] *' ™ • EL LINGTON, August 22. lhc resignation of Sir Joseph Ward came as, a great surprise to most of tho people of. this city, who did not- know that it was lively to come so soon. Tho resignation has not 'been wail received. Perhaps it is that tho paoplo had grown so used to the confjnuanoo of the National CJovermnent that they .did not imagine tJrat it could be ©rought to such a sudden end, and the announcement has come for this reason as a 'BOOck,'. but very few people can bo found to-day applauding Sir Joseph Ward's action. Ihe Dominion oallod the programme "a prango for popularity," and, editorially, took F • Joseph Wani to task for breaking t>a alliance. "The fact that some featanS °Li P r( ?gfanrmo aro in themselves admir-able-'enough, just such measures as all reasonable and patriotio men might well agree to co-operata in advancing under such circumstances as exists is much less important than that Sir Joseph Ward lias taken tho_ step of all others which will most Becpudy impede the carrying- such proposals ■in to effect. That is tho e®se*ttial faot upon which ; public attention should be riveted at a time whon tho need is clearly emphasised all_ over the Empire, and nowhere more pointedly than in this dominion, of establishing nobler political standards than (Sufficed in pre-war days of sinking party :ard developing a national outlook. Sir Otoeeph Ward, and those who stand with Mm, have electod to revert ignobly to tho pott®, aims ; ( | faction, and to the paltr~

and miserable outlook in which personal and party interest and ambition aro regarded aa of more moment than national welfare. Unfortunately it oannot bo "denied that his action for the timo being immeasureably increases tho difficulties of those who aim in this country at making nothing less hroad and worthy than national interest and welfare tho basis of political organisation and activity. But while tho immediate effect is to awaken strife and discord, the course to which Sir Joseph Ward and his supporters are committed is so obviously backward, so manifestly runs directly counter to tho interests of the dominion and its people, that tho effect must bo more or 'less rapidly to quicken and increase tho growing demand for political leadership and a political outlook worthy of tho times." Tho New Zealand Times not many days ago declared vehemently that the reports or Sir Joseph Waid's intending retirement were diabolical inventions of tho enemy, and tho paper was plainly nonplussed liy tho announcement. Editorially it said: — " Tho Liberal leader has ended the political truce, and issued his programme. The first ho hna done at tho logical date, tho second at tho psychological moment. As leader of the Liberal Party, ho felt compelled to join forces with tho other sido on account of tho war. Three times re-elected, he remained with his party faithful to that necessary political ccmpact. At tho earliest possible moment after tho war ho has recognised that tho war compact has no longer a basis, and he has resigned his position in tho Cabinet, dissolving that act of the political truco jmmsdiatolv after he has issued his manifesto to the dominion as leader of tho Liberal Party. He bases his appeal on tho terms of that document." The Post says: " After tho decision at wliich tho Liberal Caucus unanimously arrived threo months ago, with tho approval of their absent leader, it cannot be said that the calamity which is reported to-day was unexpected. It was beyond expectation and. almost beyond hope that so uncompromising a resolution in favour of tho resumption of party warfare should be so completely reversed as to admit of the extension of the party truce which to most moderate meii appears to bo almost as urgent a necessity aa was its institution four years ago. But though tha decision of the Liberals had thus sounded the knell of the National Government, both tho time selected for tho execution of the sentence and tho manner of its oxecution came as a surprise and a disappointment, and may even bo said to justify indignation." After praising Sir Joseph Ward for coming into the coalition, and expressing regret that the good arrangement should have to terminate, it goes on to aav: "When one contemplates tho time and the manner of a step which sooner or later may have been inevitable, no such inopportune and unfriendly breach as that which has now bsen made was suggested by tho resolution of the\ Liberal Party, which declared. "That whilo loyally abiding by the existing l compact between the two parties, the Libsral Party will contest the general election separate' and apart from tho Reform Party ■with a_ definite progressive radical policy!' By thia resolution the Liberals claimed a free hand at the general election, but not before."

OPINIONS IN AUCKLAND. CABINET RECONSTRUCTION URGED. (Fbom Odb Own Coiibespondent.) AUCKLAND, August 22. In referring to the termination of the coalition, the Herald says:—"The withdrawal of tho Liberal members of the Cabinet affords Mr Massey an opportunity for reconstructing tho Ministry, and he will make a serious mistake if he contents himself with filling the gaps. The Prime Minister must face the unpleasant fact that somo of the Reform Ministers do not com mand tho confidence of the country or of their party, and they must bo sacrificed in the interests of efficiency. Personal friendships and political associations cannot bo weighed at such a time as this, and tho members of the Ministry who have demonstrably failed must bo excluded from any reconstruction. There are plenty of young and vigorous men in the party who are capable of filling any office with distinction, and tho Prime Minister will be well advised to avail him of their services."

In regard to Sir J. G. Ward's manifesto, the Herald says:—"The difficulty .jvhich will confront the reader will be to separate Sir J. G. Ward's real intentions from the window-dressing, which has, no better purpose than to catch the votes of the unwary. If the purpose of his political programme is to embrace everything to disarm tho critic who may be disposed to say that liis pet hobby has been omitted, the policy must stand as a model. It covers such a wide field that there is a great deal in it that will meet with almost universal approval, but its general character is that it is diffuse and unconvincing. Everything is mentioned, but nothing emphasised. When it has been read and digested the pubJio will be left speculating as to what Sir Joseph Ward really stands for." The Star says:—"ln regard to the dissolution of the partnership, it is no secret that tho Liberal Party has become completely dissatisfied with the stagnation of the National Government and tho fact that criticism is necessarily suppressed out of a senso of loyalty to tho compact. It is well known that a caucus of tho Liberal Party somo months ago decided that the coalition should bo brought to an end, and communicated the decision to Sir Joseph Ward in Europe. No doubt when he reached Wellington, Sir Joseph Ward found this feeling of dissatisfaction rampant in the party, and it was because he was impressed by this and the clear proofs strewn all around him of the incapacity of a Government whoso sections had so little in common that ho decided to break away from the Ministry at this particular time instead of waiting until tlu> session was over." The Star generally commends Sir Joseph Ward's policy, saying:—"Taking it as a whole, we believe it will appeal strongly to the Liberals and to the moderate section of Labour as a statesmanlike effort to solve - dominion problems on bold lines. Sir Joseph Ward displays ideas and courage, and casts a wido net indeed. One fault in tho manifesto from the tactical point of view is that rather too much ground is covered and too much detail included. Before the appeal to the people is made tho more important proposals should be brought out in greater relief."

" I don't see how it would have been possible for Sir Joseph Ward to take any other course unless the fusion of the National, Government was to beoome permanent," remarked the Hon. Geo. Fowlds in discussing the new development. " I have seen, all along tho impossibility of holding a session of Parliament and doing any important business with tho prospect of the dissolution of the National Government and an election immediately after the close of the session. The Parlament is a moribund one. Tho Government has taken supplies until the end of the year, and I see no necessity for passing the Estimates during the coming session. On the contrary, I think it should deal with purely formal business, and that the new Parlament should be elected and meet beforo Christmas in order to pass an Imprest Supply Bill to legalise payments after December 31. A full session of the new Parliament should be called early in the New Year."

Mr Fowlds expressed himself as being in pretty general accord with tho tenor of Sir Joseph Ward's manifesto, with two important exceptions. "For example," he said "while believing in proportional representation as the most urgent measure required in any country if a democratic system of government is to be safe, I cannot agree to tile application of it to the cities white the country electorates are kept out. It is well known that the country electorate is, on the whole, more conservative than the city electorate, and Sir Joseph Ward's proposal ould mean that tho conservatives in the cities would bo able to secure representation, while tho progressive sentiment in the country districts would be entirely disfranchised. I cannot understand anv democratic leader making such a proposed There is no more difficulty in applying proportional representation to a group of "country electorates than thoro is in the cities The system is entirely fair all round."

GTIRISTCHTJRCH PRESS COMMENTS. (Fnoai Oub Otpn Correspondent.) CILRJSTCILUIiOH, Augmst 22 Commenting on tho now political situation the Lyttolton .Dimes says: "The record of tho Now Zealand National Government in regard to nearly every matter of domcstio politics provides its own striking proofs of the faults that are inherent in tho systesm If tho Reformers aad tho Liberals had ch> tcrmmed to contimio tho truce and try to nuvko it permanent they might, though with difficulty, havo survived the coming elections, 'but the next Parliament would havo proved so sterile and futile that tho constituencies would havo been filled with dissatisfaction, and it is in the interests of tho poople, not of the politicians, that are at stake. Those interests, we feel sure, will bo best sorved by a return to th o timehonoured methods of constitutional Government. Tho rights of the House of Representatives will bo restored as they could not havo been if tho coalition had- lasted, and tho country will benefit, not only through having a united' Cabinet, but also through the ro-estaiiiishmont of an cfficicl

Opposition. Tho country ia quite ready for tho chauyo w hiuh the Liberal leader has brought about." Dealing with Sir Joseph Ward's manifesto tho Tunes says : " lie has outlined a programma oelipaing in breadth, and boldness anything' that has been placed beforo tho publio tor a groat many years past. In ossouco it is in thorough accord with tho traditions of tho Liberal Party in New Zealand. It complies with tho principles of ' tho greatest good for tho greatest number,' and seeks to diffuse the national wealth nml prosperity."

( TJIO Picas, in its editorial remarks, says: " Let us for a moment consider our provisional theory that Sir Joseph aspired to rally his old party to a fight for ollioo in tho old manner. Tho session in that caso must bo a short one, and t|io conditions in which it will bo held will bo very unnatural Sir Joseph will not bo freo to attack Mr Massoy, at least with deooncy, for ho is equally responsible with tho Prirno Minister for all that has happened in politics during tho past four years, whilo for wiiat preceded August, 1915, tlio war operates as tho most effective statute of limitations possiblo against a renewal of old-time political war-f-Lre. Assuming that after a short session Mr Massoy goes to tho country tho political scales will bo heavily and unfairly loaded against tho Government unless Sir Joseph Ward'—aa most pooplo will agree, he is in honour bound to do—defends tho Government party sincerely and assiduously against tho consequences of tho dissatisfaction that tho two parties have between them contrived to cause throughout the country. We must admit that wo cannot porcoiv© how Sir Joseph can do thia—his clear duty. Ho could abstain from criticism and perhaps hoidl hia followers to a similar course, but he could not fail to profit from the popular discontent with. the policies for which ho was with tho Prime Minister jointly responsible. Thero is only one way out of this dilemma for Sir Joseph. Ho can forgo this most unnatural political advantage only by forgoing any desire he may havo to aspire to office as the head of his old party. Sir Joseph himself, in his peroration, declares for a centre party, but he cboes not definitely put himself forward aa tho prospeotivo leader of that party. This wo ascribe less to a modesty surviving 50 years of strenuous politics than to an uncertainty respecting the minds of the rank and file of the two main parties." As for the now Liberal policy, tho Press says: "Wo distrust it as decidedly as we should distrust anyone who proposed to make us rich in 10 minutes for lees than nothing. Reduced taxation, enormous borrowing, gifts for everyone, and wholesale plans for nationalisation —by these means tho oountry is to be made rich and everyone made happy and the enormos publio debt wiped out in 10 years less than tho period which a few years ago Sir Joseph thought was short enough to enable a debt of half tho amount to be liquidated. The war has been rich in lessons of various kinds, and not tho least of its lessons is the necessity for a strong distrust of tho glittering promises of tho politicians. The public can no longer bo persuaded' that a Government can take sixpence from a shilling and leave half a crown. Sir Joseph's ' stunt' policy will not do. It is not the policy for any moderate man who wishes to seo his oountry remain solvent and healthy, and this fact makes us wonder whether Sir Joseph's grasp of the fact that this is a new era is a sure one."

The Sun says: "The Liberal lcadfir has acted somewhat dramatically by resigning without notice and publishing a political manifesto, but he has had a lot to put up with during the past four years, and none will blame him lor choosing his own time and his own method of precipitating a poitical crisis. Thera will be no regrets at the dissolution of a political partnership that was never anything more than a necessary expedient to which the leaders were compelled to resort under abnormal conditions. If the public could feel at all ooniident that the coalition would speedily be replaced by a strong and capable Government with a working majority the outlook need causo no couoern. Unfortunately, there is little ground for taking such a hopeful view of the position. A renewal of party strife between Liberals and Reformers is merely a suicidal contest in the face of a common enemy—Bolshevism—and no one need be surprised if the extremists profit exceedingly iby the present turn of events. Tho split in the non-Labour vote caused by the followers of Sir Joseph. Ward and Mr Massey remaining faithful on purely personal grounds to their respective leaders is going to give the Labour Party tho chance of its life, and no one need be surprised if it emerges from tho elections strong enough to entitlo it to occupy the Opposition benches."

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S POLICY. VIEWS OF BUSINESS MEN. (Fbom Our Own CobbebpondfeNT.) CHRISTOHURCH, August 22. A business man who was interviewed by a press representative on Sir Joseph Ward's nationalisation and borrowing proposals refused to take them seriously, regarding them simply as political camouflage to be put in the shop window and not used 1 . " Sir Joseph Ward is trying to steal a march osn the Labour Party," said one gentleman. "His proposals look very attractive to the eye, but I don't think he ever contemplates carrying them out." The nearest approach to a serious criticism of the proposals was the following from a promment_merchant: "I don't think that tho nationalisation of these tilings is going to make for a.ny bettor service; in "fac£ onois inclined to think one gots a better service from private enterprise than from tho Government undertakings. As far as borrowing is concerned, I think we have borrowed enough unless it is for actual reproducing purposes, such as the completion of the Otira tunnel and the East Coast railway. These aro works which should be completed with as little delay as possible instead of our continuing to pay interest upon capital sunk." The flour millers refused to make any comments regarding the proposed nationalisation of the flour mills, seating that the time was not opportune, the proposal being in tho clouds, so to speak.