POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2518, 20 July 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

NATIONAL CABINET SCHEME

PROSPECTS BRIGHTER

National Cabinet stocks have risen during the last fow days. At tlio end of last week there were few so sanguine as to hope that any kind of arrangement between the parties which could lead to a measure of union would be consummated, but it would not be correct to say that this is the view of members now. It is believed now that we shall know the final decision on Wednesday on which day the Opposition are resuming tlieir caucus meeting, adjourned from Friday last. Thero is a question on the Order Paper addressed by Mr. E. Newman to the Prime Minister asking for information as to what steps havo been taken with a view of forming a National Cabinet, but it is not at all likely that the question will bo answered on the printed supplementary Order Paper. The answer 'to tho question, when it comes, will come in some other way. In reply to an inquiry on the subject yesterday Mr. Massey said ho could say nothing at all about coalition or the prospects of coalition. Ho said that he had not seen Sir Joseph Ward for several days. In actual fact Sir Joseph Ward has been in Christchurch for tho last day or two. When the proposal was first made the offer by tho Government was to take three members of the Opposition into a. Cabinet of nine members, and this proposal was rejected "by the Opposition for a reason stated: that in view of the fact that parties were .practically equal in the House the proportion was not a. just one. Since_ then a now proposal has been made, it is understood, which cannot be rejected on this "ground. It is no secret in the lobbies that one of the obstacles in the way of a National Cabinet is in the choice of the colleagues of Sir 'Joseph Ward to represent the Opposition Party in the Ministry. Thero is a suggestion that the party ought to be allowed to elect those'members.

WAR PENSIONS. The War Pensions Bill is to be reported to-day from the Defence Committee, but it is just possible that it may not be recommitted uutil to-morrow. It is believed that the scale of pensions is to bo made more liberal in certain particulars, and, if this is so, the amendments will have to be submitted to tho House by Governor's Message.

NO NATIVE LAND BILL'. It is not likely that there will be a Native Land Bill this session, although of course there will as usual be a number of clauses in the Washing TJp Bill dealing with Native land matters.

THE BUDGET. The Budget will not be presented to Parliament to-dayj as was inteuded, by tho Hon. James ■ Allen. After the Financial Statement has been submitted to tho House, Mr. Allen is to relinquish control of Finance, leaving this Department to the Prime Minister, but as he had prepared the Statement about his own year of administration he is to deliver it to the House. Tho suggestion has been made that tho delaying of the Budget is in some way conneoted with tho coalition scheme. ■