POLITICAL POSITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1923, Page 2

POLITICAL POSITION.

COMMENT AND SUGGESTION

SIGNIFICANCE OF MEMBERS SEATS. S riSC IAL TO \i V M’ OiA N. WELLINGTON. Jan. 2G. All the local papers comment "it approval on the Government’s determination to call I’arliamcnt together earlier l an appeared to have been at first, intended. The prorogation was to February 12th., and it was popularly supposed no earlier date was possible, but llr prerogative of the GovernorGeneral was invoked and members now -taud •s'iniiiioned lor February < tlt. The -Tost” declares that the fate of ihe Government depends upon whether :i sufficient number ol Liberals and Independents "ill so interpret- 'boil pledge as to give the Government n wording majority. But the “Dominion'' talcs a rather broader and more heroic view of the situation. "The Government”, it says, “would not k> justified in attempting to carry on if jt were dependent lor its continuance in office upon an uncertain margin ot votes. The question to be brought definitely to an issue when the House meets, is. of course, that of a, working arrangement between tbe Reform and Liberal parties.” This is the solution of the party tangle that commends itself to lbe great body of public, opinion here.

Mr W’ilford still maintains his golden silence waiting the meeting of Parliament and the consequent development There is a feeling abroad. however, that lie would not favour anything in the shape of a Coalition, that would give the Liberals only minority representation in the Cabinet and no effective voice in the direction of the affairs of tlie country. On this point, he may not k in agreement with all the members of his Party.

Some significance is reasonably being attached to the choice of seats in the House. Mr Witty has vacated his seat on the front Opposition bench and has taken one on the hack Government bench. This may not mean that he has renounced Liberalism, hut it suggests that he has heroine more tolerant of Reform. Mr Statham has vacated his former seat behind the Opposition and has not yet appropriated another resting place. This i.s being taken to indicate that ho "ill not require a .seat on the floor of the House during the life of the present Parliament. Colonel Bell, the Independent member for Bay of Islands, has placed himself beside Air Witty on one of the ]o-c e.;i|S')i(-i'oq-- Governin'’!:, n-rer