Between the Parties

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14074, 4 December 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

Between the Parties

THE KING'S ATTITUDE. The talk about intervention hv the ivmg and the rumours of His" Majesty's determination to prevent the Lords rejecting the Budget are of course, ridiculous. Tho King is much too wise, and has too strict a regard lor his Constitutional position, to do anything so foolish. At the same t | me V lt would bo idle to pretend that the King is not as deeply interested in what is going on as any of liis .subjects; while not doing anything which can be called taking sides 'in the quarrel, he is naturally more anxious to avoid a bitter and heated political crisis. It is difficult to find an exact analogy in private life for the King's position and the King's policy in regard to disputes between the two leading parties in the State, but they may perhaps be likened to those of a man of business who is very anxious to stop a lawsuit breaking out between two business firms in both of which he is interested, and both of which he wants to see remain strong and well managed. For the moment he is in special relations with one of the firms, but that does not prevent him wishing that the rival firm should not make serious mistakes or commit itself too far. But though the King may be counted upon to do his best to keep party passion aud party action within bounds, we may also feel certain that he is not going to injure his position or his reputation for strict impartiality by undue interference or by plunging into a quarrel without the assurance that he can do good. We should guess that at present His Majesty's activities are confined to discovering exactly how matters stand, and what are the ultimate points of difference which are, or for the time at any rate seem, absolutely incapable of reconciliation. Very possibly it _ will be found that no concessions satisfactory to both sides are discoverable: but oven if this is so tho King will have done no harm. He has the support of the moderate people on both sides in playing, as far as circumstances permit, the part of peacemaker.