NATIONAL MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 3 July 1915, Page 7

NATIONAL MINISTRY

SOCIAL' DEMOCRATS' POSITION, (Bs; Telegraph.—Special Conesnondent.) | Christohurch, July 2. I Mr. G. : i\V. Russell's paper, tho "Spectator," is .very, friendly to the Coalition idea. . .The "Lyttelton Times"-has for some time showed no trace of the epilepsy of the other leading Opposition paper. This morning, rebuking Mr. E. J. Howard, the, most prominent of' the Social Democrat workers 1 here,' who had denounced the ; Coalition, the-"Times" said:—"There are istories and rumours of sorts in circulation suggesting that large-minded men are jaro in political circles, but in the meantime we .are entitled to believe that the Prime Minister is anxious-to bring about the, formation of a truly National Ministry, and that he is being met in..the most patriotic'' spirit'liy "the""Leader of'.'the' Opposition. If the development" contemplated by the Prime Minister were a mere party understanding to reprieve .the Government' from criticism wo, should have nothing to say concerning the course that the Labour members: should follow, but we trust and believe that Mr. Massey is animated by larger motives." . ' . . ' Some of Mr. Howard's letter iB worth, quoting. "I can't for the life of me see any difference between the Liberals and the ■ Reformers. I know all, about .the good things the -good Liberals did for the good workers. You need not trot out those old arguments', because tho good Liberal died when Mr. Seddon died. I should be exceedingly sorry to see Mr. Eraser, the Minister of Publio Works, replaced by any man in the Liberal, Party. If the Liberal Party and the 'Conservative Party join hands then the official Opposition Party, must be the Labour Party.- You seem to think the Social Democratic Party is too small to. be noticed, but don't' forget they, too, can bargain with tho Massey Party. . If Mr. Massey would promise to bring down an effective, and acceptable Proportional Representation Bill before next, election, I can see no reason why the Social Democratic Party members should not support Mr. Massey, providing ho does not bring-down any Bills that would ,be exceedingly hurtful to Labour, but no S.D.P. man has any right to accept office in jvijny of- the. enemy." •