PARTY POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1924, Page 1

PARTY POLITICS.

AVELLINGTON, July 10,

The placing of Air Alassev in cold storage, according to Air Lee. Auckland East, is the first essential in one of the much valked-of party combines some amusing particulars of which lie quoted to the House to-day from a circular which he had received in common with all members of Parliament. The document, lie said, was from the Xew Zealand League, which comprised many public men who in the past supported 11 it? Reform Party, fi showed that efforts were being made to solidify the desire for a compromise Cabinet, and lie supposed the circular had been sent round for the purpose of bringing tlie matter to a head. As far as he could see ilie proposed Cabinet comprised Air Coates, Prime Minister; Air Willord, Attorney-General and Deputy Leader of the House; Air Downie Stewart, Hon A. T. Xgata, .Messrs Nash, Masters, Knrlies, F. J. Rollesloii. Young. Girling, Ycitcli and Sir John Luke. Apparently the Xew Zealand League, which claimed to -uppoiC* the Reform Patty in the past set out at the start with the deliberate intention of placing the present Prime .Minister in cold storage. (Laughter). They would not have Air Alassev at any price.

Air Leo. quoting from the circular, said: ‘•When il was suggested to Ah Massey that lie should retire and make room lor an amalgamated National Party he replied. "I will go when I am jmt dill aiul not before. "Evidently. *’ commented Air Lee, “the Cabinet is only oil paper so far. Apparently the Leader ot the Opposition was also asked to comment oil Hie proposed 'Cabinet, and when a suggestion was made to him that amalgamation might be assisted by bis retirement lie said : ‘*l will do anything tlmt will help the country. If giving up llie Liberal leadership will bring prosperity and political pence to New Zealand I will give up gladly. ' All' Lee added that it would not be surprising if Mr Alassev was prepared to affrm llial the giving up oi the leadership ol' the Liberal Party by Air AYilford would assist the country tieilieuilously, and of course on the other side the same view was held in regard to the Prime .Minister. (Laughter).

••It seems to me,” commented Ah l.ee, “that the proposal consists of an attempt to get rid of a C ahinet oT sharks and supplant it with a Cabinet of minnows or whitebait. (Laughter). The most interesting fealiire is that only two members of the present Cabinet are considered to have satisfactory qualifications, while five members of (lie Liberal Praty are budding members of Cabinet. I do not know whether they will flower, of . course. All Reformers not at present in the Cabinet are to be included in the parly.” All- Lee thought ho could see certain disadvantages about the suggested (qibind. For instance be could imagine the member for Parnell becoming indignant and kicking over the traces because he was not included. Ho was amused at the surprising egotism of the prnpoundors of the scheme, that if it was adopted without vote-split ting certain worthy public characters would bo able to collie ill. For instance Afr AY. .J. I loldswortli, of Auckland, would be in Parliament. Probably the member for Grov Lynn would have something to sav about that. Air R. Alaoartuev was also mentioned, and All Leo supposed the member tor Lyttelton would have something to say about that. It was a most amusing proposal and a most amusing Cabinet. Tim only omission seemed lo bo that although Air Alassev was asked to go into cold storage Air AA’illord was not also asked to go there.

Air Howard: He goes to a hotter

place. Mr Lee: If Air Alassev goes into cold storage and Al.r AYilford goes into Hot storage we would avoid what the member for AA'aimarino described as the

••bill foolery and the tom foolery” wo have lmd recently.

The circular referred to by Air Lee suggests that men like the Billowing might get into Parliament: —Alessrs T. E. A'. Seddon, J. Farrell, Holdswortll, G. Mitchell. J. Alasoii, R. C'obbe, T. Forsyth, 11. S. S. Kyle, J. J. Clark and R. Alaeartney. Every member of Parliament and every Pressman associated with the House received a copy of the circular amusingly detailed by Air Lee. Its origin is modestly undisclosed, though there are signs that it originated in AAelliugton, and a foimer independent AA’ellingtoii member is credited with being ilie chief moving spirit. The House adjourned before Air J.ee concluded. AYlien he resumed, he explained that he had heeil trying to discover the parent ,U' this mysterious Cabinet, but had been unable to discover him. Apparently it was a foundling child which had been disowned. The Prime Minister made a personal explanation to the House following Air L e e’s references in the circular to his alleged declaration that lie would go out ”w lien he was put out. and not before and that he preferred the Labour Party to the Liberals. ”i want to say.” declared A!.r Alassev, "that the statement as typed is an unqualified fal-chood. It is worthy of Ananias himsolt.” Air Potter (Roskill) declared that when the Reform Party turned down Mr Alassev Air AYilford was welcome to the leadership of the country. A Liberal member: There would he no Reform Party left. Air Potter agreed, and said that the Liberals would have to wait an age before Air Massey was turned down.