The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1925. A

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1925. A

I’ll ( Iliil i- :t! sit tuition c intitules in .'I >l<i *o ni 11 11 \. In tlic meantime Sir rrattcis I*■ ■i I i- the Prone .Minc-t ’i. lid. appoiii in;, n! i, al one • a complimc:;t aii'l an honor la nur who iias *.'!'• cl I in- l.'cform Party wall an I Inii i) i' 11 11 . Since tile Conservative days Sir Francis has Icon a menial tower nf strength tu the party. Indeed. ter long he has been the power behind tlie throne, si to speak, in guiding the Reform administration of the country. The tact, that a permanent Prime .Minister has not been appointed at, once suggests that Reform lias a gordian kind le, sever to straighten out the political situation. In the ahsenee of .Mr Downie Stewart, the party Inis not resolved upon iilial action. Mis wishes have to la* consulted before the linal siep is taken. The reality of coalition possibilities is suggested now front the 'Lyttelton “Times,” a (|iiartcr which gives a oood deal of reason for believing the negotiations are in fact probable, as superior to possible. II this be so, we l.efieve that some other Prime M inker than Sir F. I). Bell would he more approachable for such a delicate arrangement. The matter as one of courtesy should go through the head of the Government, and it hardly appears that Sir Francis is ol the temperament to negotiate. However, his appointment is pro tern, and it is not: unlikely that the matter will be discussed in all its hearings ttl (To Reform caucus, and any negotiations likely to he brought to a head might lie lel'L in the hands of a special committee. Ol the Reform Ministers the two considered chiefly e!iyfide are the Hons Stewart and Coates. These are not Reformers of the old school, and are more likely to In* acceptable as a National leader by Liberals prepared b> throw in their political lot with the (iovernment Party. It seems as ii a fair fidinwing on the Reform side favors .Mr Stewart, while .Mr Coates has a strong North Island backing lkjt we are sore if either gentleman entered into the premier-hip there would ho nothing insular about their actions. .Ifr Stewart's health is the lirst consideration. He is away on a health trip and is optimistic about tin* treatment. With less than six weeks to the meeting of Parliament there may not lie enough time to complete the course of treatment and return to Now Zealand for the session. If Reform is to cnrrv on satisfactorily it needs a Prime Minister (irmly sealed to meet Parliament, and the intervening time is little enough for the new head of the Government to prepare and lay his .plans. On that score, if coalition was not in the air. it would he more advantageous at this stage to appoint Mr Coates with time to prepare lor the fray. These are aspects which the coming caucus cannot ignore, and wo may be sure they will lie taken into account. Mr Stewart is sure to suitply his views by cable so that with the early sitting of the caucus will come the mature decision of the party. The Liberal view will 1)0 ascertained in the meantime, and even if unofficial it will be of some guide. The “Lyttelton Times” has summed up the situation by indicating that common sense suggests the time for the regrouping parties is at hand, and this feat no doubt will be the means whereby the political situation of the times "ill lie solved.