THE COALITION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 457, 28 July 1915, Page 10

THE COALITION.

IS THIS THE END? ONCE MORE DECLARED DEAD. ANNOUNCEMENT TO-NIGHT. j [From our own Parliamentary Eeporter.] I WELLINGTON, July 28. So many predictions have been made recently regarding the probability or otherwise of a National' Cabinet that one has almost begun to despair about getting the real truth. The proposal has had a hard tight against heavy odds, and although the protracted nature of the negotiations showed plainly enough" the difficulty which the party leaders found in coming to an agreement the friends of the coalition never al-j together lost heart. This afternoon, j however, they have finally admitted defeat, for the result of the Opposition caucus this morning was a definite rejection of the Government's latest offers. The caucus lasted two hours and a-half, and as usual on its conclusion the oflicial statement was "no announcement to make." But it was not difficult to find out what had actually happened. Coalition has been pronounced dead several times lately, but on this occasion there is no doubt as to the pronouncement. It does seem as if the negotiations were doomed to failure from the outset, and it is just as well for the dignity of Parliament that the parties should no longer carry on the sorry pretence of arranging an understanding that they never expected to be reached. Sir J. G. Ward will consult Mr Massey this afternoon, and will probably make a statement in the House in the evening.