PRESS COMMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1326, 2 January 1912, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT.

"INTOLERABLE USURPATION." '" The "Pahiatua Herald" snys:—"lf the reports from Chnslchurdi' that Parliament will not bo called together before April arc correct, Kir Joseph Ward has entirely failed to recognise his duty to the people of New Zealand. This dale is fixed apparently because it is anticipated that in the event of there being a dissolution tho Ward party would gain a strategic advantage from tho fact that the general elections would be after the end of the financial year. In other words, Sir Joseph Ward is prepared (if tho rtportis correct) tu violate the Constitution in the most shameless fashion in order to try to improve tho position of his beaten party. If Parliament does not.meet till the'beginning of April New Zealand will have been ruled for practically four months by a set of politicians who have been beaten at tho polls. Such an intolerable usurpation of power has never been attempted • hy politicians iu any British community, ami we think the Ward Administration has chosen the wi-oiir part of the world to practise such political trickery. In South America or some.parts of Asia it might have' been successful,, but wo mistake the* temper of the people of New Zealand if they do not proceed by public meetings, petitions, and through the newspaper press to show that they will not tolerate such tyranny and such an outrageous abuse of office in tho interests of. partv. The •manner in which the Ward Administration is clinging to office shows very eil'eelively that the public interest concerns it but little, and that its attention is wholly given to scheming for party advantage- and fur c lhc preservation of the personal privileges of the members of the Ministry. In spite of all the scheming that may go on, however, we shall be .astonished if Sir Joseph Ward is still Prime Minister in April of next year. Wo are sufficiently confident of tho spirit of tho people of Now Zealand to believe that they will not tolerate four months' unconstitutional government bv discredited politicians and the representatives of a party which has been beaten at the polls." Incomprehensible Optimism. Although there has been no official report published of tho secret meetings of Sir Joseph. Ward's followers, somo indication has been secured of the nature of the- proceedings (says tho "Wairarapa Daily Times"), and this clearly suggests that' Sir Joseph Ward still hopes that he will bo able to carry on. If this is actually tho position, Sir Joseph Ward is cither the most remarkable optimist who has ever had a place in the New Zealand Government, or elso he is a determined place-seeker, wilfully blind to tho clearlyexpressed desires of tho electors for a eliango of Administration. . . . They aro satisfied that Sir Joseph Ward has not got a 'majority of tho votes of tho House. Mr. Wilford has gone away, aud, so far as is known, has not arranged a "pair"; and Mr. Hindmarsh (Labour) now declares that ho' will support, the Opposition on a no-conlidenco motion. On previous occasions, when reviewing tho political situation, wo gave the votes of both Messrs. Wilford and Hindmarsh tp' the Government; and wo recorded as Government supporters certain gentlemen who aro now a declared to be "wobbling," and wo yet found tho Government in a small minority. Later developments have made tho position, from the "Liberals" point of ■ view, infinitely worse, and we arc at a. complete loss to understand the optimism of tho Prime Minister. "Only One Course Open to Him." The "Dannovirko Evening Xpws" sees some hope for Hie country in Sir Joseph Ward's caucus meetings. " "There is wisdom in numbers, and wo hnvo more faith in the Prime Minister doing the right thing at the dictation of his followers than if left to his own initiative. Aspiring supporters of tho stamp of Mr. Ell and Mr. Laurcnson are no doubt ambitious to keep Sir Joseph Ward in power in order that they may step into vacant portfolios, hut the common sense of tho parly as a. wholo should see that the Ministry lias lost I hi; confidence of the country. If tho Prime Minister does not wish lo resign, I hern is only one course open to him, and Unit is to call Parliament together as quickly as possible. ■ The newly-elected Parliament may he depended on lo yery auiekly decide whether the

future government of this Dominion is to be placed in the hands of Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey." "A Little Judicious Delay." Tim "Elthatn Argus" is one of the very few Ministerial papers that comment upon the situatiou. It says-.—"Until tho House meets no one can definitely say what is the actual position. It is sail! that Sir Joseph Ward was defeated at tho polls. That, appears to havo been practically the case. The people have licen reminded lime after time that certain ot tho Labour representatives are- pledged to oppose Sir Joseph. Ward on a no-con-fidence motion. This must be admitted, but it is absolutely certain that the same Labour members after fulfilling their pledges by voting against Sir Joseph Ward will immediately afterwards vote against Mr. Massey. .Some of the newlyelected are pledged to vote against Sir. Joseph Ward, but they are nob pledged (o support Mr. Masscy-aud therein liesthe difficulty of tho situation. The position is a. delicate one both for Sir Joseph' Ward and for Mr. Massey. Even if SirJoseph Ward were at onco to- resign, it is quite conceivable that Mr. Massey would hesitate ere accepting office. He would not liko to suffer tho humiliation of reigning for about'2lhours—such an event would bo quite-possible in the pfesent mis-up of politics... We do n6t think that either the. Parliamentarians or the. public wish to be again plunged into, the throes of a general election, and a little judicious delay at the present moment, we should imagine, would'be acceptable to both Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey." Country Not to be Trifled With. Although no definite announcement has been made by the Prime Minister, it ia understood that he informed his southern followers that he would have a majority in tho House.on a no-confidence motion, and that he is therefore undecided whether to call Parliament together before June. It is difficult to see how Sir Joseph Ward could havo brought himself to such an' optimistic frame of • mind. In view of the minority of his own party in the House, and the public declarations made by three of the Labour members, to say nothing of one or more of the Independents, it is inconceivable that the Prime Minister could arrive at the conclusion that he can control a majority in the new Parliament without a stupendous appeal to the romantic. The public will not bo satisfied that pledges have been broken in the deliberate manner Sir Joseph Ward would have us believe, and it will accept no assurance that is not backed up by either documentary evidence or by a' ' direct division in the House. The country is not in a mood to be trifled with, even by the first aristocrat of the land.— "Wairarapa Age."' %