THE POLITICAL CRISI.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 4

THE POLITICAL CRISI.

BETWEEN THE ACTS. A DISSOLUTION POSSIBLE COMMITTEES OF PRIVILEGEMembers apparently gave themselvei up to a quiet week-end, for the balls and corridors of Parliament Buildings were silent and almost deserted yesterday nnd on Saturday. It is commonly accepted that the session will now Inst for lit least another week, and possibly longer. Members of the Reform I'ariy aro confident that 1 hey must win in the end. The complications that arose at the end of last week do not affect the broad features of the position. The debate of the past week, and in particular the announcements by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Millar that they would stand down in favour of others on their side, sullieiently indicated that the Liberal parly is very far from being a happy family, and tiie addition of one or two Labour men, out to secure large concessions, would not tend to restore harmony in the party ranks. There is a prevailing belief (hat Sir Joseph Ward may be induced to review his decision to resign tho leadership of the party, but this does not improve its prospects. As n matter of fact, the Government seems to liavo been, set the difficult task of satisfying two diametrically-opposed sections, one of them clamouring for reconstruction of the Ministry and tho other as strenuously opposing it. Late events have unquestionably strengthened'the prospects of an early dissolution. There are many members of nil parties who are strongly averse to putting the country to the expense of another general election and themselves to the cost of another campaign, but there is tio doubt that tho Reform party, if it cannot oust the Government in any other way, will force a dissolution and an appeal to tho country. Upon one thing all members of the party are agreed—that they were returned to remove the Ward Administration from office, and that, if they went again to the country, they would return with an accession of strength which would make the task easy. Although ft majority of the Government following would strenuously oppose a dissolution, it is known that one or two of its units would be by no means sorry to go to their constituents, review their political pledges, and return with new political coats. One Government member remarked on Saturday that n dissolution seemed to him the only way out of the present difficulty. As a whole, tho debate, which is to In resumed this evening, litis lost nothing of ite interest, and 110 vital change lias occurred in the political situation since tln> debate opened. The complications which liavo arisen during tho last few days may retard the settlement for a time, but they cannot avert the natural outcome of tho present situation—a change of Government.

THE ALLEGED OFFER OF MONEY. PARLIAMENTARY IKQUIRY BEGUN. Preliminary meetings were lield on Saturday of the Committees of Privilego sot up by the House of Kepresentatives to report upon the questions of privilege, raised in debate 011 the previous day, when statements were mado concerning an alleged offer of money to the member for Grey Lynn to induco him to vote for the Ward Government. Technically there were thi;eo commjflees, one to deal with each question of privilege, but the personnel of the committees is (he same in each instance, the members being: Messrs. James Allen, W. Eraser, J. A. Hanan, W. Nosworthy, E. P. Lee, G. W. Russell, J. Robertson, G. M, Thomson, \V. A, Veitch, and the IJou. J. A. Millar. Mr. llanan was electcd chairman. It was resolved that tho proceedings should not bo open to tho press, and should bo regarded as sub judice. The committees will meet; again on Monday, and tho chairman will take an early opportunity of asking tho llouso to grant an extension of time for the preparation of their reports. This request will probably be made on Monday evening. STATEMENT BY MR, M"MASTERS: (By Teleg-raph—Pre6s Association. 1 AucklanS, February rj. Mr. Charles M'Maslers stated to a reporter on Saturday that the allegation that he had offered Mr. Payne, member for Grey Lynn, a bribe, was ridiculous.