AT LAST!

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 6

AT LAST!

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT"PARTIES PRACTICALLY EVEN". PARLIAMENT TO MEET NEXT MONTH , Sir Joseph Ward ended- yesterday the almost unbroken silenoo which ho has maintained in regard to ■ tho political situation since tho result's of tho second ballots'were announced, arid handed the following statement to tho press for publication:— . • .-,;.' TO THE ELECTOKS : OF NEW ZEALAND. ' The ■present political situation is a very difficult ono. It is not ■ yet three weeks since thte return of the writs, and this period includes tho, Christmas and New Year holidays.-. I have during the short tinio at iiiy -disposal fully inquired into the situation in all its bearings, and I havo had assurances that on a "Want-of-C'onfidence" motion I should have : a small majority. I have, therefore, been urged to defer calling Parliament together until the ordinary time, or after the close of the finaii- . ci«l year. \ I, have, however, fully considered tho position, and I have Batisled myself that it is .tho wiser. discharger \>f my'diity that I should take the course I now indicate. The,, two main , parties practieally ev6n, and a .small Independent section of'the meinbers havothus the balance of power. I have all .through been of tho opinion that Parliament alone should deal with such a situation, and after the fullest and niosti careful consideration that I have given to tho matter, I have finally concluded that Parliament should meet as' early as practicable for that purpose. I shall, therefore, ask his ■Excellency the Governor to ■ summon. Parliament for .Thursday,, tho 15th proximo; .-"-;■ There as, no necessity for me to elaborate on the' questions involved, excepting to say that in my opinionsit isvessential for the good, and' sound government of any., country ' that.the party in power, should have a majority supporting it, 'and while neither of the principal parties can directly, as the result .of the elections, claim that they have this, I feel that the course I have intimated is not only the constitutional one, but in tho best interests of the people as a whole. ■ . ~ JOSEPH GEORGE WARD. Wellington, January 8. STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. 'AN .EARLIER DATE SHOTLD HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, January 8. ■ Questioned this evening, tho Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Massey) said that he ,Was pleased that Parliament , was at last to meetv/but fie was •of opinion that it should have met at an earlier date. The last election was tho most important in 20 years, and'he thought that Sir Joseph Ward and his' colleagues would have dbno tho right ;thing had, they advised tho 'Governor 'to'convene Parliament before.' the ■ end . of' tho present month. Jf an election' hecanie necessary, it would no on.:account of attempts being made to iriterfero .with.'the'will of,tho people gs expressed" at the polls. ' '■•''■■ '- ! - : - - '■'' '■' '' "■' TARDY: COMPLIANCE. ' WHAT A SOUTHERN PAPER SAYS.

(By Tclcsraph.— Special Correspondent.! , ■ ' Cliristchurch, January 8. The "Press" to-morrow will refer to the late=t development in the political situation as follows:—Sir Joseph'\v»rd has at last, with evident reluctance, decided to take the proper course and call Parliament together. His statement that he has a small majority wo regard merely as another sign oE his constitutional optimism. If, however, he really thinks he still possesses the confidence of the country, one would siipposo that ho would wish this fact to bo demonstrated, at the fearliest possible moment. He evidently feels that some apology is necessary for his tardy compliance with public opinion, for he lays emphasis on tho fact that "it is not yet three weeks since the return of tho writs, and this period includes the Christmas and Jsew Tear's holidays." It is more than three weeks since tho second ballots were held, and jfny self-respecting politician'with a regard for constitutional propriety would havo recognised at once that a situation had arisen which necessitated vthe immediate calling together of Parliament. Now' that ho has at last tardily and reluctantly recognised the plain truth, we seo no legitimate' excuse •why another five weeks should elapse beiore Parliament is summoned. This means that for more than two months Ministers Will have been drawing their salaries and parrying on tho Government of New Zealand so far as they are permitted to dc W,' although tho Prime Minister himself lias to admit that it is doubtful whether they continue to pos.=ess the confidence of the country. -■ Sir .Joseph Ward .would have been far better advised, for his own Hake and for the sake of his party, if he had frankly and promptly recognised tho fact that his side was in a minority, and hadcalled Parliament together, say, about tho middle of this month, so as to ascertain in the only effective way the wishes of the people,,and to end tho present very' undesirable state of political uncertainty and unrest. Nothing excites so strongly the indignation and contempt of the people as an unworthy clinging to power nfter its only justification, the confidence ol tho people, hs« been withdrawn. The tindignatioiv in. ' this case: was", intensified ny something more than a suspicion that Attempts we're .being made by political intrigue to thwart and override "the will of tli.e peoj.Vns ox Dressed a> thn,ballot-box We regret: tho delay, and think it quite Indefensible, but wo nre glad that the right course has at la-st been decided upon, "or a Ministry that profess to "trust tho peotile." the resuon=e in this rn>n hns been singularly grudging, nnd Ministers must not be surprised if tho conviction obtain* that it-has been virtually forced ppon them.

AN. AUSTRALIAN OPINION.

Writing after the receipt of the results I M I.Uo first ballots nt the recent New ZeaJand emotions, the "Pastoralists' Review" paid:—'Rio late Government is at present , in a minority ... and it may be tho second votes will turn. tho,, table* but f oven if this bo the case, the results indicate a great revulsion of popular feeling, and a general belief that the day of outrageous borrowing and inflated values fihoul'i cca'se. This is corroborated by the fact that, during tho Grst nine months of this year there were over 9000 more people arrived in New South Wales ffom New Zealand than returned to it. and it is safe to say that people do not hurry away from a good thing. THE OFFICIAL INTIMATION. I TOR THE DISPATCH OF BUSINESS." More than passing interest attaches to tho Gazotto Extraordinary, published last evening, summoning a "meeting of the General Assembly for the dispatch of business." It reads as follows:— . ISLINGTON, Governor. 'To the' Legislative Councillors of the Dominion of New Zealand nnd tho Members elected to serve in the House of Representatives of the 6aid Dominion, summoned and called to a Meeting of the General Assembly of the said Dominion, at the City of Wellington, on tho tenth day of the month of January, one thousand nine hundred and twelve, to havo been commenced and held, and to every of you: Greeting. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas tho Meeting of the General Assembly stands prorogued to the tenth day of January, one- thousand nine hundred and twelve: Nevertheless, for certain causes and considerations I have thought tit further to Drorogno the same

to Thursday, the fifteenth day of tho month of February, one thousand nine hundred nnd twelve, so that neither you nor any of you, on the said tenth day of January, at the City of Wellington,' lire to bo held constrained to appear; commanding and by the tenor of these presents enjoining you and each of you; and all otljei's , in .this behalf interested, that on. Thursday,' the fifteenth day of the month of February, ono thousand nine hundrbd and twelve, personally you lie and appear for the Dispatch,of Business, at half past two o'clock in tho afternoon, in tho Parliament Houses, situate in liowon Street, in the City of Wellington, there to take into consideration the state and wolfare of the said Dominion of New Zealand, and therein to do as may 6eem necessary.

Given under the hand of His Excellency the Eight Honourable John Poynder Dicksoii-Poyncler, Uaron Islington, Governor and Coimnander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand, nnd its Dependencies; and issued undor the Seal of tho said Dominion, at the Government House, at Wellington, this eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve. J. G. WARD. God Save the King!