The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1928 POLITICAL PARLEYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 530, 6 December 1928, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1928 POLITICAL PARLEYS

THOUGH it is a foregone conclusion that Sir Joseph Ward will he forming a Ministry, and taking over the reins of Government in a day or two, it is nevertheless a trifle early for the triumphant statesman to he making large promises about his policy as Prime Minister, and in some of the revelations of his intended strategy he is showing rather more loquacity than subtlety. By contrast, Messrs. Holland and Coates are mute. They are, in worldly parlance, “giving nothing away.” However, Sir Joseph has contrived to release at least one tit-hit—the prediction that another sitting of Parliament will be necessary early in the New Year. This will cause general interest, hut should really occasion no great surprise. The emergency session now in progress was begun too close to Christmas and the holidays to have any value as a means of allowing the incoming party to open its programme. Mr. Coates was possessed with the idea of receiving a formal ejection from Parliament, instead of resigning without more ado, and it is now plain that his tactics have put the country to considerable and unnecessary expense. The one contingency that may avert the need of a session next March appears to be the rather remote chance of some agreement between the parties to-day. In the terms of this agreement Sir Joseph will require a clear passage for his loan authorities. As the head of a minority Government, he would be foolish to demand anything further. An attempt to legislate for jtreferential voting, another primary feature of his programme, would bring Labour to its feet with a demand for proportional representation, and a protracted struggle would ensue. Even though his requirements stop at the loan authorities, Sir Joseph may find the House and the rival parties in no mood for agreements. There seems to be only faint hope now that the debate on the no-confidence motion will be confined to three or four members. Attempts to negotiate some sort of an understanding have brought to light private members with views of their own, and present information can suggest no definite limit to the argument. It is all very unnecessary and undesirable at this time of the year, but it again illustrates the error that was made in summoning Parliament together in such circumstances. The guarded and evasive comments of the Labour leader have not so far clarified the situation. Though Mr. Holland must have been mortified by his ejection from the Opposition benches, he has at least the satisfaction of knowing that he is still a power. With Reform voting against the United group, he will be able to precipitate a General Election whenever he wants it. Unless he can discredit the United Party first—and that will be a matter for delicate strategy over a period—he is unlikely to want another election for some time. In the meantime, Sir Joseph’s loans, should they materialise, will help, to reduce unemployment and improve conditions generally. To reflect on the cost thedvof, including the maledictions of future Finance Ministers, and two sessions of Parliament at £1 a minute, would be a sordid business at Christmas-time.