The Federal Political Crisis

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1067, 15 August 1904, Page 3

The Federal Political Crisis

Dissolution Asked For Pr*ti Ab«ii" ; '!!i,- Com/light Mkhiournk, this day AtTKR a meeting of tho Cabinot Mr. Watson waited on Lord Northcoto and asked for a dissolution. Lord Northcoto requested time to con< sider his answer, and sees Mr, Watson again on Monday. !MAY NOT BE GRANTED " rut h wooi :> tinn, •-■Convrielit. Mkuiouiinh, this day After a 'long intcrviow with Mr Watson Lord Northcoto summoned and had a shot t intcrviow with Mr Reid. It is considered unlikely that a dissolution will bo tirantod, The Etouso moots on Wednesday, PRESS OPINIONS. Press Association-Copyright, Mklhouxe, Au« I'A Tho Argus says: "Tho mijorily against tho Ministry is not largo nm\ doos not represent tho strength of support the sueceding Cabinot will have, for at lenst two members voted with tho Government who wero opposed to its altitude on tho preference question. The Watson Government lias been from the first in an anomalous position, having tho majority facing it iustead of sitting behind. Its existence for four months has boon due to tho desire for fair play which prompts members to give those in a dillicnlt posit tion a chance to justify themselves. It bus also been duo lo tho canlion which characterised every movement and orory utterance of Mmistcis, They have been assuming a moderation which nothing but a woak credulity would accept as gonuino, since it contrasts so strongly with ils attL tudc beforo assuming ollico," Tho Age says: "Tho defeat of tho Watson Government by a majority of only two on tho question of pveforenco to unionists croates a very peculiar situation in Federal politics. Tlio Prime Ministers and other members of tho Cabinet throughout the debate gavo ainplo indica tion that in tho event of the .contingency which has now arisen theyintendedtoask for a dissolution. Tho smallnoss of the majority is in itself enough to indicato the hopelessness of attempting to form a stablo administration in the present Hotiso, which suggests that if Mr. Watson asks for n dissolution it should not be refused. Tho far reaching Importance of tho point about preference to unionists, upon which Mr. Wulson made his final stand, amply justifies his urging on tho attention of tho Goviiiioi'jGcnci'al tho national necessity of getting i direct iiHiidate from the people on tho subjocl, Mr, Uuid does nol, ami cannot, represent the Commonwealth He does not even represent tho Opposition. Tho real Opposition nt tho lime when Parliaim-nt was dissolved was Mr. Watfon's parly, which proved its right to that status by securing ut majority ngainst j the Government on a v iiul issue,"