THE COUNTRY FLOUTED

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 6

THE COUNTRY FLOUTED

i The political crisis reached a further Strango development yesterday, when Sir ...Joseph Ward (who is still Prime Minis,ter) disclosed a scheme whereby the country wonld bo governed for tlio next four • >months 'by some person or persons at present unknown. He stated that the now Ministry, which is expected to come •into being as the outcome of tho-defeat of the no-confulenco motion, would not ~.,1i0 formed just yet, and would not meet Parliament until next June. This idea ~ jiaturally moused a determined protest :; ■• fronv Mi\ vMassey and the.'Kefonn party "as a whole, and the proposal was 'severely criticised by tho Reform leader and many others. '

The amendment was lost, and a further amendment by Mr. G. JI. Thomson to adjourn till March 14 was defeated by 40 votes to 38. Thus Sir Joseph Ward got his own way and the session onded. The discussion started at 4.30 p.m., irheiv. Sir' JOSEPH WABD (Prime \Ministcr) tose- and said: , "I desire to inoVo that tho House' do -now adjourn. We have completed the business on tho Order Paper." Mr. Massey: T would like to ask "Hie .right lion, gentleman what is intended. -.When will' ho ask the . House to meet '/again?.. This afternoon , , to-morrow lnoin-'-ing. or when? . . . ' Tlio Prime Minister said he intended to nsk his Excellency the Governor to prorogue Parliament from now for a month end then in the ordinary way till June. ; Mr. Massey: Then you are now proposing prorogation?. ' ' ' . ' . ' Kir Joseph Ward assented. • Mr. Massey: It is just as well ■Wβ ' should understand that i'act,,biit I think '■• ihe right lion: gentleman, should have told us when he moved the motion. The House is entitled to know whether he proposes to make any Ministerial statement in regard to reconstruction of tho Ministry as indicated during the debate on the Address-in-Eeply. I think the House is entitled to a reply to this question, and ■the country is entitled to a clear statojncnt.as to what the Prime Minister intends. ■ '.■'.. The Prime Minister: I have observed that.one.of the Conservative newspapers has been .iir{?ins that- step. Mi , . Massey: Which one? The Prime Minister: The ono yon havo been in close touch with during the last few. days—tho Christchurch "Press." • Mr. Massey: I am.in touch with them .11.. ; ■ The Prime Minister: I am not going to be controlled by the antiquated notions of a Conservative newspaper.. lam goiug to carry out what I have said. My'rei pponsib'ility is to the country and not to the Leader of' the Opposition or to his party. When Parliament meets there will'be a Ministry which has already received the .-affirmation-of tho confidence of Parliament; (iiisscnt.)

Mr. Massey:.No. •■;.„.-,•" Mrj'l'iskoiy. On condition that you Tβsign.;,. -y •.'...-. ■■-

.The Wardist Scheme. j The I'rime Minister: And you are still over there and we are over here. Ho re- , ; peated that. lie was not going to take .-tho .Leader of - the' Opposition into his His duty was to liis-country, ; the party, and- to nil sections of that . X'Tpar.ty'-.whicli 'supported tho Government?, 'would "t'alce r ;the. earliest opportunity • meeting them; and,' within a sliort 'period from '.'now,..a week maybe, or two, ■ t 'or maybo r niore. lie. would make a recoin- ; .inciL(ln{.ioa t(i his Excellency the Governor, as to tiie;alteration. that' was to be made, ; : ; ,aiUV the. new' Ministrywould meet the 'Hoiiso'in'. Juiie next.,; lie believed it would ,;be strong :.enbu;h to deal with any- mntt'ers tli.itmight' come up, , and tho Leader : tho Opposition could tlion constitution- '• ally, nieet: th'p'Goyernnient tb'at would bo constituted. He hoped he had mnde liim«lf clear, and he'thought lie could hardly - be expected to. place himself under the 'control of the antiquated views of the Conservative press wlicn they had been clubbing him in every direction with the Leader of the Opposition. He was not - jioins to accept qifts from tho Greeks. When he found those people (the Opposition), who were in a minority in respect of the combined votes behind them, of 100,000, that lie-should be advised by them, he thought it, was an insult to tho people of the country and the party and the House. He was going to carry out the constitutional- course absolutely, and'later 011 110 would givo his reasons publicly and carry it out the right end proper way. • >

SESSION ENDED ■■ ./ . . NEW MINISTRY STILL A —■■ MYSTERY . STRONG OPPOSITION . PROTESTS STRAIGHT TALK BY REFORM LEADER