FEELING IN CANTERBURY.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13379, 30 March 1912, Page 5

FEELING IN CANTERBURY.

MR WITTY REFUSES TO CRITICISE

THE LEASEHOLDER AND FREE-

HOLDER PROBLEM,

LABOUR NOT SATISFIED

(Special to "The Colonist.")

G'tristchurch, March 20

Mr. Goo. Witty, M.P.'for Riecarton, who r^turved this morning from Wellington, was asked by a. reporter for his opinions regarding the now Ministry, but clf'liiieti to criticise Mr Mackenzie's solo-otvm. Jißkod why lie himself had 1-onn left out of th» Milliitry. Mr. V/itty said: "I had the opportunity to ioin tho Cabinet, but I declined." Ho was asked if ho would give bis reasons for refusisip- office, but he would Jiot allow himtolf to be drawn.

Tho f/-J"olion of mo do by tlip now Prhno Ministor. the Hon.. T. Mackenzie, ocoasioii'-d some surprise among tho community in Christclmrch. Korm» of tho now 'Ministers, of cour?c. lia<l b"o.n ri'iardod as cDrtaintiop. and Lheir inclusi<!n was not tho subject of particular eonnnont. Tho elevation, of no lower than four Canterbury members to Ministerial rank was the real surprise packet. It was well known that tho Canterbury members had been tho cause of some embarrassment to the Prime Minister as he had not the number of portfolios at his disposal which

would enable him to satisfy them all. It has been common talk that several Canterbury; members during tho past week have been in sedulous attendance- at Wellington, and that they were prt'RSing their claims with some insistence. Tho opinion in town is that Mr Mackenzie has done his best to satisfy thoin all, and that the inclusion of Messrs Ell and Buxton as Ministers without salary is a sop to those two members. The Hon. G. W; Itusell's appointment is_ credited to his own vigorous determination that no matter wli o was left out it would not bo ho. The public are wondering how avowed leaseholders like tho lions. Hanan, Lauronson and Ell are going* to mix in legislative amity with freeholders like the Hons T Mackenzie, Myers, Macdonald and Buxton. If is. one of the Parliamentary puzzles that time alone will solve, but it seems-to foreshadow another attempt at sustained compromise, on the land question. Some surprise was felt in town that neither Mr. T. H. Davoy nor Mr G. Witty had been included in th<> now. Ministry; however, Mr. Davey .was a strong supporter of the Hon. J A. Millar for tho leadership of the ' party, and would therefore oxp°et nothing from the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Mr Witty was offered a portfolio, but could not sco his way to accent it Mr. ft. R, Whiting," who was the J-<abour candidate for Christchurch wnith in opposition to the Hon. H. G. I'M, had some/ interesting comments "in make about the new Cabinet. "Viewed from tho standpoint of labour," Mr Uniting said, "the new Cabinet is very little./if any, bettor than tho old Cabinet. There may be a few Ministers like Messrs Laurcnson arid Hanan with progressive ideas.but on the other hand we have a Prime Minister, who I understand, is a freetrader and freeholder. J hat is not at all satisfactory from our standpoint. As one who lias taken a great interest in political questions for many years, and as one desirous of seeing tho conditions improved for the masses. I do not think that any Ministry will b e satisfactory to tho groat body of workers other than a Labour Ministry. Tli c fight of tho future must. ■if ™nwecn labour and anti-labour " Mr Whiting said that, he did not think . til at the labour members would support a _ general no-coiiiidonco motion against the new Ministry unless the doieat of the. Government "would result in a more progressive Ministry taking charge. Tho new Ministry appeared to bo a compromise between freeholders and leaseholders. Tho leaseholders could expect nothing from the Hon T MacrconzKi, and the freeholders could not expect to realise their goal under a Ministry which hnd ar>;>..r:mtly compromised on tho land question' Plis opinion was that matters poitical would remain m a very unsatisfactory condition until there was another appeal to tho country. That appeal he behoved, would have to be made in'tho' near future.