POLITICAL SITUATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 8 January 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION.

AN INTERESTING BUT UNTRUE RUMOUR. MR. ISITT’S ATTITUDE. , (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, January 7. Statements were published locally that there is much intriguing to induce members of the Opposition to abjure their allegiance, and to join the ranks of the Government followers, and that Mr. L. M. Isitt had been the intermediary of a tempting offer by a prominent member of the Opposition of the position of Minister of Railways in a reconstructed Cabinet. Enquiries made in Christchurch today in regard to the statements, show that they arrive out of harmless jokes made without any significance whatever and without the slightest semblance of authority from Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Isitt, interviewed, stated he did not have a conversation with any member of the Opposition that would by the wildest flight of imagination be construed into an offer of a place in the Ministry. Sir Arthur Guinness stated his conversation with Mr. F. M. B. Fisher was simply a jocular allusion as to which Cabinet Mr. Fisher would bo inclined to join. Mr. Fisher stated there was nothing in it, and that no offer whatever was made. Referring to his attendance at the caucus of Government members, Mr. Isitt states that, at Sir Joseph Ward’s invitation, he had attended a caucus hold in Christchurch last week. He felt it his duty to himself, his constituents, and country that he, as an ardent Liberal, should express lids opinion as to what ought to be done in the present circumstances. He did not vote on any proposition placed before the caucus, and he drew the attention of those present to the fact that he was there as an Independent. At the same time, he assured Sir Joseph. Ward that he (Sir Joseph) might rely upon the fact that he would do all in his power to keep the Opposition out, while still retaining absolute freedom from any pledge to either Sir Joseph Ward or the Government. He wished to state definitely that he was not in St Joseph Ward’s confidence. He did not at present know what course Sir Joseph intended to take. He had not the remotest idea as to whom Sir Joseph intended to take into his Ministry, or to keep out. Any opinion he might hold was like the opinion of the man at the street corner, and was based simply on his own intuition.