WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

THE PH IMF .MINISTER. GRAVE ANXIETY. (Special to “Guardirji”.) WELLINGTON, April 2. The shadow of a grave anxiety hangs over the whole community. The Prime .Minister still lies in hospital, n sorely stricken man, and the watchers send out no word of definite encouragement. “A fairly comfortable night.” “no pahi.” “sleeping peacelully,” are simply phrases, not wholly reassuring and losing their inspiration by iteration. Probably never before have all classes of Hie community waited so tensely and hoped so fervently for the word the doctors yet are unable to pronounce concerning Mr Massey. The imperilled leader is no longer merely Die distinguished head of a political party ; lie is the personal friend of the multitude, and only his devotion to what he has conceived to be the best interests of the country, his courage, his patriotism, his splendid optimism and his wertn as a until are being remembered. The silent, earnest manifestations ol respect: and .sympathy, affection and goodwill, arc as universal among nis political opponents as they arc among Ii is political triends, and whether lie returns to complete health io resume his old place in the administration of the affairs of the country, or is compelled to accept some other role in the great game of politics, party asperities will he less personal and less sordid for his example and his service. There is much room lor improvement in lliis respect —a fact for which all the political parties are more or less to blame—and it would he a lilting tribute to the personal qualities of Air Massey Io remove lliis reproach from the public lile ol the Dominion. THE INVERCARGILL SEAT. Sir Joseph Ward has accepted the invitation of a large and influential deputation to contest the Invercargill seat in the House of Representatives at Die next general election, and a large number of people of varying pan;, (feedwill welcome his determination to reenter a. sphere of public life with which lie was so long intimately associated. There is no need a I this stage to discuss his chances ol success, which are reported from the constituency ho has decided to woo to he exceptionally good: hut in this part of the country ii .is admitted by many of his iormcr political opponents that his presence in the House would add much to its financial knowledge and a good deal of debating ability, two directions in which the present Parliament sadly needs reinforcemenl. Air Massey and Ml. Downie Stewart can talk figures with understanding and facility, and Air fcidoy. Air 1 Lilian and Mr McCombs, on the other side, at letisl can erilieise (hem intelligibly. hut there is not another member of the House, even among Mr .Massey’s colleagues, who can oiler any useful guidance upon this very important subject.. In the eit rumstances, it is not surprising that Die very capable permanent heads ol the Depart meals i m meili :i i cly concerned have practically shaped the financial policy of the Dominion. The tendency ol these gentlemen has been to lollow the line of least resistance with the result that both taxation ami expenditure have not always re-ted oil a well d,'lined basis. It is not being assumed that Sir Joseph Ward, if elected, immediately would lake (barge of Die Treasury; hut it is generally fell he would he a very useful critic "! the Minister hearing Die heavy rcspmisihililv. THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP. Mr Roller! Masters, the member for Si rutl'onl. one ol tin’ most promising young men in the present House of Representatives, has taken upon liimsel! to deny the report, that Air I. AI. AVilford is about to resign the leadership of the Liberal Party. Each a suggestion. Air .Masters declares, never has been made to either tho members or the executive of the party, and l herd ore. he assumes confidently, it is without inundation. No doubt the lad that the announcement of Sir Joseph Ward's acceptance of nomination for the Invercargill seat and Die rumour of Mr Wilford’s retirement from the Liberal leadership appeared in the papers simultaneously as a pure coincidence, hut the gossips here arc attaching to it much significance. They are suggesting that there is an impending split between the Ward Liberals and the Wilford Liberals. and that this may ultimately lead to an estrangement between the two sections, which will hasten a coalition between the Reformers and one see-

tion of the Liberals, and between Labour and Die other section. This probably is wholly irresponsible speculation! but it is well-known that the political relations between Sir Joseph Ward and Air Wilford are not exactly cordial and I hat Die rank and file of tfic Liberal Parliamentary Parly also •ice at some variance oil Die point of leadership. People knowing him well, however, scout Die notion of Sir Joseph returning to politics with any idea ol creating dissensions among the members oMtis old parly. They maintain that at present the leadership of a partv is not among his aspirations. SECTIONAL GOVERN.M ENT.

Various constructions are being placed on Sir Joseph Ward's mention of “sectional government” in the little speech lie addressed to the deputation which invited him to contest the Invercargill scat at Die forthcoming election. Some people take it io mean that Sir Joseph is favourably disposed towards a coalition between Die Reformers and Liberals for the purpose of keeping Labour at bay; others that lie. sees ahead a rapprochement between the Liberals and Labour, and others again that he meant to protest against tiie political dominance ol any section of the community. Tho first assumption may he safely dismissed. Judging from his own lilteralices after the dissolution of the National Government, a return in pea.ee time to an expedient Dial was justified by the exigencies of the war would he the last, tiling he would desire, lie lias expressed liimseii always as prepared lor the resumption of the old relations between the Liberals and Labour, provided Labour recognises the I inula mental pimciplcs of loyalty to the Empire and constitutional government; but probably what was in his mind when speaking in Invercargill on Tuesday was the tendency of certain sections of the community to exalt their claims to political consideration above the claims ol othei sections. For obvious reasons he could not he criticising the policy of the Government at the lime, but lie would have been quite in order in emphasising the need ol drawing all classes together in an effort to achieve a national end.