THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 60

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

NO CABINET RECONSTRUCTION

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER-

WELLINGTON, January 9. According to an interview in the Times this morning, the Prime Minister states that there will be no reconstruction of the Ministry at present. "lam going to meet Parliament with my old colleagues," he said.

VIGOROUS SPEECH BY MR MASSEY. AUCKLAND, January 12. Speaking at a social tendered by MiLang, member for Manukau, to his election committees, Mr. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said he was convinced that the Reform party would gain larger individual and aggregate majorities if it was forced to appeal to the country again within 12' months. The election had involved much hard work, but the fight liad been a good one, and though welltried soldiers had fallen in the battle, he hoped their absence from Parliament was only temporary. —(" Hear, hear.") When the people had heard the truth they knew, as was shown by the large number of Re form candidates elected. However dead the Opposition might be, there was no doubt that the Reform party was very much alive: With increased numbers the party must assume greater responsibility. It must give effect to the reforms which it had advocated for many years, and which were urgently needed. A favourite slander against the party was that if the Opposition was allowed to become the Government it would immediately reduce the wages of the workers, especially of those in the State employ. No viler slander had ever been uttered, but very soon the party would have an opportunity of showing that the workers and the wage-earners had no better friends than the men who had sat in Opposition for so many years. He hoped that in the near future it would be able to take measures that would reduce the cost of living, and give the workers access to happiness which had never been given to the people by those who called themselves the Liberal party. —(Applause.) "The Reform party is ready for anything that may come along," said Mr Massey, amidst applause. " We are ready to do our duty, even if we are called upon to face another general election. The majority of the people believe that the watchword of the Reform party is 'Honesty and progress.' Within the next few months all the people will have subscribed to that opinion."—(Applause.) OVERTURES TO MR FISHER.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

STATEMENT BY MR ISITT. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. Mr F. M. ii. Fisher, M.P., having returned from a visit to South Canterbury this evening, opportunity of his presence in Christchurch was taken by a representative of the Press to ask him regarding the efforts said to have been made by Government members to induce him to throw in his lot with the Government.

Regarding the statement that he was offered a portfolio in the Ward Ministry for 1912 Mr Fisher said he had on no occasion had an offer of a portfoilio from the Prime Minister. Who was responsible for the statement he would not tell. He had held interesting conversations with members of the Government party which, if published, would prove vastly entertaining to the curious public, but he did not propose to entangle himself by publishing his version of private conversations which would be at once denied or contorted. The reporter pressed for further details of the incident, and .after some talk Mr Fisher said that he would give the text of the conversation and other details if the reporter would obtain from Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., his permission to do so. Mr Isitt was spoken to by telephone, and at first appeared to be rather annoyea at being disturbed In his own home over the matter. He said that he could not

imagine what conversation was referred to by Mr Fisher. Mr Fisher had void a Lyttelton Times reporter, that the rumoured intrigue was empty of fact, and further, he (Mr Isitt) wished the press to understand definitely that for the future he would ignore lies which it published concerning him. He repeated that no talk of the sort suggested had passed between them, and the only mention of a Cabinet position made by him to Mr Fisher had been made at a public luncheon table at the tennis courts. That had been by way of a joke and nothing more. There were other young men present, and the talk had been fairly general. Joking, Mr Fisher said, " And would you give me a place in the Cabinet?" and Mr Isitt answered " Yes. I would make you Minister of Railways on one condition." "And that is?" "That you pay me 20 per cent, of your salary." A voice asked Mr Isitt whether he would not do it for 15 per cent., and he answered, "No, my conscience would not allow. me to do it for a penny under 20 per cent." The reporter persisted with the question of whether Mr Isitt would give Mr Fisher permission to make public some conversation (of what nature the reporter was ignorant) which they had had. Mr Isitt asked how he could give Mr Fisher permission to publish what he (Mr Fisher) had already told a reporter had no existence. Eventually he said, " I will give you a definite statement." This was taken down and read over to him. Mr Isitt absolutely denied that he had ever said anything to Mr Fisher in private with reference to his vote on a no-con-fidence motion or anything that could be in any way construed into a suggestion that ho should join the present Ministerial party,, either as a supporter or as a member of the Cabinet. Mr Isitt added that he had nothing further to say. Mr Isitt's statement was shown to Mr Fisher, who said that it was all rather amusing. "If that was the only confidential talk we had what were we doing when the photographer of the Weekly Press took the picture of us which has been published? That was in the morning, before the luncheon incident. It is unfortunate for the public that instead of a photograph he did not take a gramaphone record. When that photograph was taken we were talking more interestingly than Mr Isitt mentioned. I am in the unfortunate position of being unable to repeat a conversation without the explicit permission of the other party, and you have not obtained that for me. Certainly Mr Isitt never held himself out a» an envoy of Sir Joseph Ward."

AUCKLAND, January 9. A large Native meeting has been called for January 29 at Waahi (Mahuta's settlement) to consider the position of Dr Pomare, the member for the Western Maori electorate, it being alleged that he is not eligible to sit as a Maori representative owing to being a three-quarter-A great Opposition gathering will be held in the Town Hall at the end of the month. Mr Massey and many of his supporters from all parts of the North Island will be present.

(From Odb Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, January 9. Mr J. A. Hanan, M.P., has returned from a short visit to Wellington, where he was in touch with political matters. He had nothing to disclose when questioned hy a reporter on the journey down. Many congratulations have been offered to him on hifi inclusion in the reconstructed Cabinet, as reported by the ChnstchuTch News. Mr Hanan laughingly disclaimed any right to congratulation. He said that he had no knowledge of any sucn appointment, and that he did not think there would be any Cabinet reconstruction until after Parliament met—if at all.

(From Ova Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 9. Attention is being called to the fact that though Sir Joseph Ward in hu most recent manifesto expressed the opinion that it was essential for the good and sound government of any country that the party in power should have a majority supporting it he, in the same sentence, admits that his party has not a majority supporting it. Under the circumstances it is urged that he should not continue to carry on the Government of the country as he is doing! but that Parliament should be at once called together to decide who should govern. The opinion seems to be gaining ground that, having failed in its efforts to rope in certain Independent, Labour, and Opposition members, and knowing that it is in a decided minority, the Government will not submit to a test in Parliament, but will, before such test can be made, resign office. In that case Mr Massey and not Sir Joseph Ward would have to meet Parliament as Prime Minister, and it therefore behoves him and his party to be ready for an eventuality. If they are not ready the position might be awkward, but if they come forward fully prepared there can be no doubt about their success. The Opposition party is alisolutely solid, and is prepared to work together" for the good of the country. The Government following, on the other hand, is composed of men of such divergent views and extremes in politics, and there are evidences of so much dissension and intrigue within, that it must crumble away to an ineffective party. These are reallv the most vital facts in connection with "the present political situation There is on the one hand a growing force and on the other a crumbling power. An appeal to the country under such circumstances is likely to add strength to the Opposition force, while at the same time it will complete the disintegration of the already weakened Ministerial body. Another point strongly in favour of the Reform party is that whereas in the past great difficulty haa been found in securing candidates for certain seats there will on a future appeal fo the country be no dearth of good

material available. The large votes polled at the last election by almost unknown candidates against Government supporters in the south clearly indicate that -with strong reform candidates in the field at the next election the gains to the Reform partv -will be considerable with the remarkable change in the tide of public opinion. It is also clearly evident that there are other North Island seats still to be won. Indeed, the prospects of the Reform party continue to be very bright indeed.

THE LABOUR PARTY. (Feom Ouh Own Cobhespokdknt.) WELLINGTON, January 10. The Weekly HeTald, the journal of the Labour party recently established in Wellington, states in ite last issue that as only one man (Mr, Hindmarsh) has been elected as a Labour representative there could be no caucus of the Parliamentary Labour party, but it is understood that Messrs Hindmarsh, Payne, Robertson, and Veitch will work together so as to show an undivided front to the enemy. Then, as all four are new to parliamentary hie, it is intended that the Hon. J. R. lUgg> M.L.0., and the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., will attend a meeting of the group, and will advise in connection with matters of policy: One of the two Upper House members, it is added, will probably be asked to be chairman. In an interview that I had with the Hon Mr Rigg to-day I drew his attention to this phase of the political situation. He said he had not yet been approached on the subject, but he assumed the statement made by the Herald was true. He understood the consultation would not onlv apply to the fate of the Government, but also as to how the party was to act on important questions of policy. If that was so then he thought there was a good deal to be said in favour of the idea.