THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1915. THE COALITION PROPOSAL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13808, 1 July 1915, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1915. THE COALITION PROPOSAL.

The proceedings of Parliament since the commencement of the session have given very welcome evidence that the members of all parties are fully In accord with the widely expressed public desire that there should be a suspension of the ordinary asperities of political life while the Empire is engaged in a life and death struggle. The smoothness and expedition of the procedure so far are indeed without precedent. "The Government promised at the outset that "no legislation the discussion of which would involve party strife should be submitted," and the Opposition were not slow to respond to the overture thus held out for a virtual party truce. The passing of the Imprest Supply Bill without debate was the distinguishing feature of the first working day of the (session. The'debate on these occasions is usually second only in prolixity to that on the Address-in-Reply, and it is used by members equally with the latter opportunity for discussion for tho ventilation of all manner of political ideas and grievances. The abandonment! of precedent did not cease with the adoption of the Imprest Supply Bill in this, summary fashion. When the Address-in-Reply had been moved and seconded the Leader cf the Opposition announced that as the great duty of the House was to deal with war measures, the Opposition did not intend to discuss the Address. Such evidences as these of the desire to relegate political controversies to the background and concentrate all energies upon the Dominion's share in the war, are entirely in accord with tho desire of the country. The Prime Minister has intimated the willingness of the Government to carry the party truce to the length of a coalition for the term of tho war. Tho way had been to some extent paved- by the appointment of a secret committee to consider matters relating to defence, upon which the Government is represented by Messrs. Massey, Allen, R. H. Rhodes, Herdman, Guthrie and Lee, and the Opposition by Sir Joseph Ward, Dr. McNab, and Messrs. Russell, Myers, and Hindmarsh. Nevertheless the country scarcely expected the Prime Minister's statement, for the prospect of a formal coalition did not appear to be realisable at the present stage of party opinion on the subject. Mr. Massey's statement fell short of definite proposals, and merely opened the way for discussion between the party leaders. We may rest assured that on the Opposition's part there will be every disposition to give the question the careful and sympathetic consideration it deserves. The vagueness of the Prime Minister's announcement has given free play to conjecture, and it is perhaps not necessary to 'attach great weight to unofficial forecasts of the proposal the Government, is likely to submit. It may be said, however, that if there is to be a. sharing of responsibility during the crisis, the reconstruction must be thorough, and with the parties as evenly balanced as they are now the disparity in their representation in a National Ministry should be muchj less marked than in the proportions, which seem to find favour among Ministerialists. If a coalition should be brcuglit about the enlargement "of the Cabinet should also be considered. This ia necessary whether agreement results from -conferences to Jbe initiated te-_ day-or not, as there is no doubt that, the principal members of the Cabinet bear heavier responsibilities at present than they can reasonably be expected to cope with;