"NOTHING TO SAY."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1329, 5 January 1912, Page 4

"NOTHING TO SAY."

"NO CONFERENCE. ,, PREMIER MEETS HIS FRIENDSAN OFFER TO LABOUR. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) - Christchurch, January i. The Prime Minister arrived in town today from Wellington, and spent the morning at Warner's Hotel, discussing the political situation with local members of Parliament belonging to his party. Those who had audience with Sir Joseph Ward were:—Sir Arthur Guinness (Grey), Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch .\orth), Mr. G. AV. ltusscll (Avon), Mr. T. H. Davoy (Christchurch East), Mr. H. G. Ell (Christchurch South), and Mr. Geo. Witty (Kiccarton). Tho members left the hotel about 12.30 p.m., and Sir Joseph AVard followed shortly afterwards. "I've gnt nothing to say," he exclaimed directly he caught sight of a reporter. "AVill the conference be continued this afternoon?" he was asked.

"There was no conference," ho replied, "and I can't say what I will be doing this afternoon. Kcmembcr," he added, as he rushed away, "there was no conference."

Sir Joseph AVard was seen later on in the day, but he repeated his a«suri<nce that he had nothing whatever to communicate, MR. VEITCH STANDS TO HIS PLEDGE REPORTED REFUSAL OF A POUTFOLIO. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, January L Political eecrets arc apparently made to leak out. One of them which is being cried in the streets of AVanganui, in various Kaugitikci towns, and on most of the trains running between AVanganui and J'almerstou North, is to the effect that .Mr. Veircb, the Labour member, has turned down a Ministerial portfolio offered to him personally by Sir Joseph AVard. The report that Sir Joseph AVard offered a Cabinet position to Mr. A'eiteh is 6aid to bo confirmed from the most authentic sources, and notwithstanding any denial which may bo made, may be taken as positively correct.

From the reports which are going about 011 the subject, it appears' Unit the Ministerial temptation held out to Mr. Veitcli was Minister for Labour. Mr. Veitch was invited to proceed to Wellington, by an unsigned telegram, to meet Sir Joseph Ward. 113 did so, and was made the Cabinet offer. It is certain that the offer included that of Labour, and it is also asserted that Railways went with it. Thetemptation was undoubtedly strong. Mr. Veitch is an engine-driver, and, until his election as a member of Parliament, was receiving only an engine-driver's wage, and the jump to iv Ministerial salary, with its etceteras, apart from (he importance of the position, is one which a large number of people would be likely to give much consideration to. Mr. Veitch, howiiver, had his platform pledge to remember, that ho would vote to put the Ward Government out, ami he refused tho offer.

Mr. Veitch's reported refusal of the portfolio has strengthened his position, in AYanganui, and in the event of another election in the conrso of the next three years, his re-election is considered to be a certainty.'-'' ,, • ■" ■;."■::■

PRESS COMMENT. A CANDID FRIfiND. The Dunedin "Star," a Ministerial journal, says: "And yet, in spite of all the considerations mentioned, we deliberately reiterate our opinion that Parliament . should meet in the course of next month. It is not constitutional necessity so much as a line senso of the fitness of things that should dictate this policy. The Government are not obviously in a minority as a result of the general election, but on the other hand they have no assurance of being able to command a working majority in the new House, and to our mind there would be something undignified, and even petty, something inconsonant with the best traditions of British statesmanship, in hanging on to offico for four months after the election, in tho hope (for such it would bo) of conciliating the Independent and Labour members in the interval. Par better, we should say, even from the standpoint of party expediency, to face tho issue boldly and promptly, and perhaps with happier fortune than some pessimists suppose. Furthermore, we do not like tho idea of Cabinet reconstruction prior to tho meeting of the Legislature. To be candid, Sir Joseph AVard's position is too dubious to justify such experiments."

CLEAREST POSSIBLE ISSUE. The efforts of the Government's journalistic supporters to ignoro hard facts are almost pathetic (says the Christchurch "Press"). Tho Wellington correspondent of an Auckland contemporary gravely arRues that for Sir Joseph Ward to call Parliament together until after March 31, "could only result in a struggle for office, without members and the country having beforo them any clearly-defined issues." Any "struggle for office" that takes placo will only be due to the indecent desiro of the Government minority to hang on to office and nsurp tho place of tho majority. As for Parliament having no clearly-defined issues before it, thero cannot possibly be a clearer one than whether Wardism is to go. The c:ountry has said it must, and tho only thing that tho Government can do without further discrediting itself is to give Parliament tho opportunity.of confirming the verdict. WARDIST PAPER'S FORECAST. The Auckland "Star," a Ministerial organ, adopts the view that Parliament will not meet until April and that Sir Joseph Ward, finding himself backed by a bare majority, will proceed to reconstruct the Cabinet. In referring to tho probable retirement of Sir James Carroll, the Hon. Roderick M'Kenzie, the Hon. D. Buddo, and to the possible retirement of tho Speaker (Sir Arthur Guinness) in order to enter the Ministry, tho "Star" says that all the Ministers named would readily place themselves unreservedly in the hands of tho Prime Minister and the Government party, and the same may be said of tho Hon. Mr. Millar and Mr. Ngata, although tho retirement of Mr. Millar is quite inconceivable and may be left out of count in any political' lorecast. Sir Joseph Word believes, and was able to convince his supporters, that ho has an assurance of a bare majority in tho new Parliament. Acting upon this belief, he would prefer to defer the meafcing until the end of April, when he will l>o able to submit th» financial results of tho vcar and his policy proposals upon which he is prepared to stand or fall in any appeal to the country that may arise out of the existing crisis. The members of tho Government party were unanimously of opinion that tho desiro to submit these results, which are of a favourable character, in n reasonable one, and that tho answer given from the polls is not of such a decisively adverse character that it is inconsistent with tho constitutional precedent or likely to prove detrimental to the interests of the country to delay the meeting of Parliament until after the financial year closes on March 31. An earlier meeting could only result in a struggle for office without- members ami tho country having lwfore them ; ,ny clearly-donned issues. After lioavinir thV. Prime Minister's summary of (he position both caucuses unanimously adopted resolutions leaving the matter unreservedly in Sir Joseph Ward's hands, and it is probable that he will mako a. definite public announcement of his intentions within the next fortnight.