THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1925, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Dll-TK I'I.TIIIS AM) SUU'TIONS.

iwiroKs wii.i. Anno this \vei:k. (‘ Lyttelton Times ” Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. May 10. There has been no discussion of political probabilities among the Party leaders during .Mr .Massey’s illness, although an impression to the contrary may have been conveyed by reports published a month ago. If there has been any speculation on the subject it has lint had the sanction of the leaders. It has been reiognised for many weeks that the late Prime .Minister's illness was hound to have a fatal termination, hut so long as he was alite there could he no discussion of the succession or of probable developments. The Parties will hold meetings at the end of the week -an official caucus in the ease of the Reform Party and an unofficial gathering of the Liberals —hut in neither case will there he any discussion of plans before the funeral of the late Prime .Minister. Sir Kranris Bell. who has been acting-Prime Miuistei during Mr Massey's illne.-s, will nmtinue in that capacity in the meantime, and his colleague.- will he asked by the Govorin r(lencral to continue the administrate.n ol their Denari incuts, pending the appointment of their .successors. The Ministry automatically goes out of ofiieo on the death ol the Prime .Minister, hut time must he afforded I'oi- ilie* choice of :■ successor and the formation ot the new Ministry. In the usual course the Governor-General sends lor the member of the dominant party most likely to command t onlidenee and a.-ks him to lorm a Ministry. When .Mr Ballame died there was some discussion in the Liberal Partv as to In- successor, and the situ-

atinn was In siUIU‘ I'!'- peels similar In the present one. because It wits not at nil cei'lnin that the cliniee would full on .Mi' Sedilon. When .Mr Heddoti died the natural successor was Sir Joseph Ward, hut he was absent from New Zealand, and .Mr I [all-Jones, the at liny-Prime .Minister, was sworn in as I’riine Minister, holding office until Sir Joseph Ward returned to the Dominion. There is a dillieulty al present in that Sir Francis Hell is not a mouther id' the Mouse of Itoi'rosenlat ices. Imt I’arliametit is not in session, and does not.meet until the end of June, and there is considered to be no reason why he should not carry on iii the meantime it it K so desired l>v the Reform Party. It the Party should choose Mr Downie Stewart as its leader Sir Fraiicis would <erfainly in sworn in ns Prime Minister tomporaitlv pi 1 11di 11y Mr Stewart’s return IVoin An.erica. The position is complicated also l.v the slate ol parties, but tin re will be no dillieulty on ilia! score until Parliament uieel s. There is bound to In' a wood deal

lIS it illp 1 r I it II IT.T Ml 111 I'l i sworn in as Prime Minister tempi,raiilv pending Mr Stewart's return from. America. The position is eomI !i 1 ■:>.!: d also liv the slate of parties, hut tli.-rc will he no diffiritlly oil that score until Parliament meets. There is hound to he a good deal of - peril la t ion as to the coiir.-e ol e a el: i - when Parliament dees meet, hut the question is not urgent and is not at all likely to he raised in a serious lorm until tho new Prime Minister takes oilier. Possibly the position will he clearer hv the end ol tic week. I.iiii'.lse virtually all members of Parliament will attend the funeral of the Prime Minister, and when tkev are all assembled inlonnal discussions are hound to oc-ur, even it formal meetings are not at once summoned. When Mr Seddou died (h ■ matter concerned only the Liberal Partv ami tin* course to he lollowefi was never in doubt. While at the presiiei lime the matter eomerns the Reform Party only in theory, actually everything turns on the Liberal atlitude. and moi'emer there will probably be more than one aspirant lor the leadership of the Reformers. However. it may be taken for granted that members of all parties will firmly refuse to be drawn into the discussion a I presell l. In some quarters it i- believed that, a special significance attaches to the tael that when .Mr Massey's illness tool; a serious t urn the I,it,ends stopped their campaign in the (oiliitry, hut Mr Wilto rd made it quite clear Hint the party executive suspended the camnaigii solely because the head of the Government was unable to lake i la* platform. Mr Wilford and hi- < olle. pms 1• ■! t tin; limy . ould not carry on a party campaign while the Prime .Minister was on a sick bed.

of -peculation as to the loiir.-c ol events when Parliament dees meet, hut the question is not urgent and is mil at all likely In he raised in a serious lorm until the new Prime Minister takes olliee. Possibly the position will he clearer by the end of tlm wed,. I. cca'.tse virtually all members of Parliament will attend the fun-