THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1925, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

BY-ELECTION IN ERAXKLIN. U I i W ELLINGTON, A lay 11. [i Sir Francis Bell is continuing as . 1 Acting-Prime Minister and his col- j t leagues will carry on purely adminis. ] trative work until his Excellency sends j for a political leader and requests him < to form a Ministry. If former precedents are followed, there would lie . i a meeting, of Reform members aftei . the funeral, as a. result of which Sit . Francis Bell would he able to tendci • definite advice to the Governor-General regarding the choice of a leader. As a hy-election must take place in Franklin, it is believed that Parliament could most conveniently he called | to assemble for the dispatch ol busi- , ness on the last Thursday in June, the customary date. By this lime, j the now head of the Government wi.e ; he ready to meet the House with hit full Cabinet. THREE CLAIMANTS EOR .POSITION. ' ! MR DOWN IE STEWART'S HEALTH A FACTOR. WELLINGTON. May 11. !

The question as to who will slierecd Mr Massey is rousing very keen interest ; in political circles to-day. Sir Grail’ H Hell is Acting-Prime Minister, hut the j majority of the R-etorm Party lavour Mr Dnwnie Stewart’s candidature. j The lion. G. Coates has been mentioned at various times a.s a possible Miceossor of Mr Massey, flic idea he- • ing that he might lead a coalition, j hut it has to he remembered that lie ■ was returned originally a.s a supporter , of Sir Joseph Ward, and went over to the Reformers, although he wrs mil singular in that respects Quite recently some of Mr A. D. AP [.e-al's friends have keen actively pit motiug the idea that he might sue eeed to the Prime Ministership, and it was rather amusing to these who were watching events from that side to not ice that Mr .M’l.eod and Mr Coates were extremely active in campaigning against one another, hut. ot eotir.se. .such a thing as that would not possibly have happened. Mr Dov.uie Stewart, ol emu-e. he. longs to an old Conservative family and . has associations in polities. Apart fruit that, lie has the mental equipment for tin* job. Cnfortuuately he ; .sutlers physical disability as the result of his war serviie. hut everyone. 1 friend and foe alike, hopes that his visit to America for the most modern , tr. altaeii! will result in his restora- ! thin to health, lie is tin* one man ; in the party who would he acceptable ! to Reformers. Imtli in the House and : in ihe country, and it is < uly a qiie.s- ; lion of health in Ins ease. It. as seems j likely, the leadership will he given to j him. Sir Francis Bell will he sworn in as prime Minister and will form an administration pending Mr Donnie Stewart's return to New Zealand. ft is worth remembering that Mr . N'esWort liy'.s friends regard him as the | senior member of the Ministry alter Sir ; Francis Hell. and. of course, on Lhe score of service lie is the senior mein- J her. and in the natural order of things Ilf would lie the .suioesSor to the lead- . or,-hip. He was the leader of the ] House during Mr Massey's absence last

The situation is lull ol possibilities an I is much mere interesting, ill fuel. Until w;i,- the situation when Mr Seddon died, for in that rase all the arran .aments were nlain sailing, despite the I'iiat llnit sir .lose; h Ward w a.s absent from the Dominion at the lime. A PCK LAND OPINION. AIR CO\TES FA VoL RED. AI'CKLAND. May 11. Alter discussing the constitutional position created by Air Masseys deall ani.| ant i. ipatiug a short interregnum !,v Sir I 'ruio is Hell, •similar to t lint o Sir William Hall -lone, in l!Mh the

“Herald’’ say-: - “Nomination o I lie next Rrime .Minister actually rests with uieuiher.s uf the Reform Party.

an I any arrangement for earryiug on the Government < f Hie <minify w ill be only temporary until they have chosen a leader for the party. Since it hr.Ileen know I, I'm weeks that Mr Ma--,ey’.-; illness could have only a fatal tcl'miuatuiti. oen sidorat ton has naturally hce'n given by many |cm Ie to the quest ioli nl a smo i sstir In his nliii e.

Two names Hilly have ! ecu mentioned. Mr | townie Slewarl and Air Coates, Mi Masses’s deputy in the House ol Ropreseiual i\ e> is Mr Stewart, who is at | resent in New Yi rk on a health to entiling trip, jusi as Air, HeddunV deputy. Sir ,)oeeph Ward, was absent in London when Mr Sedduu died in 11HIC». Although several Ministers are his senior 'in lln • Cabinet, Air Dowiiic Stewart has acted frequently, and esperiallv in la.st .session of I’arlialllellt. a.s leader ol tie' House, and lin proved his capacity lor greater responsibilities by the possession "I (eptional intellectual powers and of wide knowledge of men and aflairs. Hut apart altogether from other considerations, the state of his health is a great bar to Air Stewart succeeding to the Prime AlinisLersmp. "Mr Coales, -who is universally re-

garded as well fitted for leadership of the Government, joined the Ministry on September 4. 11)10. as 1 'ostmastorGeneral. became Aiinistor for Public Works mi April J. 1020. and Alinisler for Railways on June (i, (923. He may lack part of the equipment, necessary for distinguished .success as a parliamentary leader, hut in the last lew years he has established a national reputation as an administrator with vision, rosouri el'iilne.ss and strength of character. His .success, lioi only in reorganising the methods of public works construction, but actually in transforming the popular view of that i partmonl’s function and policy, constitutes a remarkable, even unique, achievement in New Zealand politics. More recently he has undertaken, by similar methods, the restoration of the railways to public service and financial prosperity. There is no doubt that Afr Coates lias won an extraordinary measure of public confidence by the manifest, sin erity of his determination to place national interests before all ether consideratimis, and by the frankness and firmness of his attitude on public questions. Probably never j before has a Minister in charge of three great departments been so lightly criticised. His methods have disarm- j cd criticism, for they have Keen to | determine an objective plan, means of ! reaching it, and then proceed to it j by the most direct and most economical ; application of his resources. Air Contes j has done many things that must have , been displeasing or disappointing to J manv leoplo. but even they have had | t;i agree wiili him that his decisions j and actions have been sound and businesslike. Ry such practical tie- j ntotistration of his quality Air Caatf-s j

lias heroine recognised throughout "the country as a powerful personality, admirably rpialilicd for the leadership of the Ministry, pledged to give the country economical and efficient government. He will nut seek the office of Prime .Minister, but it is expected that the party will select him for it, and persuade him to accept- it.” The “Star” similarly sneaks of Mr Coates; as the probable new Premier. It reads the constitutional position that Sir li'raiieis Hell cannot accept the Premiership, but will he asked to advise the Governor-General as to whii li Minister to soil'd for. The “Star" continues: "Talk of amalgamation between the lleform Party, and the Liberal-Labour Party has been ineraasill a hiiely. and one of the principal topics likelv to he discussed at the first meeting of Reformers is ‘To bo or not to be.-’ There is a general iecling that ! the matter should he settled before the ' various portfolios are allocated. Should the Itofurm Party favour anialganiaj lion. the l.iheral Party will he ■ approached within a lew days. On it- ! decision may turn the i|tiestion whe- ! tlier a general election will he held bolero the opening day of Parliament, dime ‘Jo, in the ordinary course. A by-election in l-’ranklin must take place 1 within twenty-eight days, and it is I understood that Mr Massey. of

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