The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1909. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12942, 6 December 1909, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1909. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

moM what we can gather from our Parliamentary special, the political situation at present is more interesting, if actually not more serious, than probably hince the ore.it Liberal party ' emerged from tie General elections 'n 1890. There are various .siijn-, of this, but the fact which is perhaps most significant is the refusal O* members to say anything about the matter, or to deny its seriousness when question?!. While remaining silent, they will hot deny that trouble is looming. A iritis is not actually imminent, but a storm is brewing, and, if not detected, wul bring about political chaos. Twice of late the Government has been defeated with the aid of members from its own ranks. once on an important clause in the State Guarantee BiP, and again on Friday nigl.t in ulusing to vote J4OO a. year to Mr W. P. Ree<-ee as financial adviser in London. On Saturday morning defeat was only prevented on the Hospital Bill regarding the contracts with Friendly Societies by keeping up the debate until the luncheon adjournment. Every indication points to the fact that the relations between the Government and the party are strained, the Badical section of the Housp feeling sore to a degree on the Land Bill. It very naturally feels that after years of support it deserves better treatment than to be flouted by its leader, with the introduction of the Freehold Land Bill, and it cannot reconcile the Hon J. A. Millar's retention of office with his previous expressions of opinion on the subject. That feeling, according- to our "special," has even reached the second branch of the Legislature. On Saturday the Council entertained the Premier at luncheon, and all the Councillors were present except ono, the Hon. J. T. Paul, a pronounced leaseholder, who made no secret of the fact that his absence was due to his feeling of antipathy to the Government land proposals. The Estimates came down on the retrenchment basis, and there is a feeling that while hundreds of small salaried men have gone out, a. disproportionate number of holders of fat billets in the London office as well as in the Dominion have been retained. This is the first Parliament that Sir Joseph Ward has been returned with a party behind him, and, before the members have been welded into a solid phalanx, the loyalty oi' one section has been badly strained by the introduction of the Land Bill. They declare they will block the Bill, and, as already announced, have arranged a campaign for the recess, one of the chief moving spirits being Mr Laurenoon, the Government Whip. A meeting of the Liberal party is to be held this week. The storm will either then burst or an amicable arrangement be arrived at.