THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1925, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

ArCKf.AMI XKWSI’AI'KU COMIUI’INT. | I AUCKLAND. May 15. ' Doth the papers here nr.rcp that the choice of the future leader of the Keforin Party after .Sir Francis Bell's temporary regime lies between ttie Hon W. Downie Stewart and the lion .). C. Coates. The ‘-Herald.'’ says;—The disability suffered by the Hon W. Downie Slewarl is wholly physical, the only question in bis case hoi no whether the state of his health would emthle him to stand tlm strain of tlie high office to lie killed. Tlie reason fur his impaired health does hint as much honour as anythin'! in Ids career; in the minds of many, his war service crowns bis other claims. It i- an inspirin'! thought. but on the other band it has to be asked seriously whether the country would he justiiicd in placing on him such a burden as the duties of Prime Minister if he has not the physi'-a! strength to bear it. In all i> l3 icr respects Ills cjlll l itil l l<>ll s ruinmaud attention. He is a in-lent and a thinker. Through wide readme and much thought be lias earned a giip "l to leadin'! social and economic questions of the day. such as can be boasted by no other member of the House. On Kmpire and foreign allairs he C thoroughly well- informed. Naturally attracted to the subject as a lawyer, be call speak with authority on Const iltltiolial questions nlloeting I-.mpiie relationships. In him the student has

not eliminated the man ol allairs. lb Fno iinprnet iral theorist. ID- ha

hmm himself possessed of a

sound "rasp of linanre. a sub.je which the modern member of I’arli

ment tends to liepb-et. A clear and convincin'! speaker. Mr Htewait 1,111 bold bis own in debate With any opponent whom the House can produce, lie is well acquainted with the hums of Parliament, and while uetiiip D' l ’- qiiciitlv us depniy for the bite PrimMinister last ses-ion showed no mean abilitv in bandlinp the House. H ,1,0 leadership fell oil him there would bo h ss disturbance of the present allocation of purtfuios than by any otbei arranoement. H- " >l“' I ' i ' l,,rill Minister "f Finance. Ml there is no law eompellinj! the I’riine Minister, to Imbl the portfolio "I I- 1I!arralipement is a quod one. The Prime Minister must ap prove of practically every proposal

~online; from any Department-, so ' m,,st The Minister of Finance. It is convenient that one man should phi.' Put!, parts. All told, the 'kbit's of , Mr Stewart are s') impressive Dial H , j„ easy to imagine that bis health Imv- ; i„e been restored, the Parly would |„-1; 1,,, further than him lor l ho leader it must have. -1-;;.. 11 era!'!" proceeds: Tie only ' , alternative likely I" be considered by I | Parte is lb- - I -etion "f _Mr , : Coates. In him eifts "t personali 1> . I energy, ibiv -. and power "I a'liniusstiaiion are aboiindinj:. lie i< a. man ,if action to the liuf!'-r tips. H<- has I,roved liinisi If to be a born udniiorai oi . the best that public alfair- in this con n I r,\- have known for very many years, if ever before. IDs qualities are in many ways e-implem, uI ar> , p, ile.se. of Mr Siewart. 'IC- two would male- almost an ideal , n 111 1 >i 11 a- ; i should Mr Si-warl b.-eone-Clime Minister Mr Ceal-.s would make an invaluable lir>t lieule-na 11 1 . I T here is every rea -oil to feel eoilli'lellt . net .oily that be would accept the .itualioli loyally and cordially, but Hon be would prefer il ihal way. Should . ir.umstaiiees make this out - j e i,i,. ittiji .~sib!e. with Mr Coales availj able for the position of Prime Minis- , j tel. it can still C- Idled in a manner I Icaei'U! tin- eouutry ~ilisiie,l that the j ilul.ies ot ibis 1 1 ij! 1 1 "Hire are in p'.".>d | bands; also Mr Siewart cin readily Iv jii,-t 11 r«o 1 as a v.illinc. ami i I KIi -sj>i• 11..ablc ally. Del ween lh.-5... two the >i I nil lion li'-> ; . Ibe Hon W. Downie Slcwarl and lb'11,,11 1 C,,at,-. Were Mr Slcwarl physically lit there would probably lie j ii , doubt ab ml lie- Party's de: Cion, i I ~-:ivine- Sir |-r;.nii. I'.' il "ill "I 11,--i 0:1,111.' Mr Slcwarl i iul ll'-ei unlly the ab’est man ill Cu! im-t. He has always I ecu a -1 ndent ol polii ies ami Pa rl ia men I a r.v experieuee. and be lias the t via- el' mi lid req u 1 red in the 1., ader of Ibe House. T here is also ibis import ant consideration, which we hope Ibe Party will bear in mind, that Mr Stewart, has studied Fmpire questions and foreion allairs. ail" would make an admirable representative of \'ew Zealand at the impel iui Conferences. Mr {.‘on ies-, on the olh.u band, lias the physical vioom- llial .Mi Stewart larks. He lias won a dcservI cl repulatioli as mi em-i'oetie lb.forin- | er in two oreat Depart mi'll Is. be b.-i----ideas and eoiirao'-. and ibese qualities 1 I his have im pres-- d Ibe popular mind. From all this, however, il doliol follow that be would be a s'leei-ss as the lu-ml of the Party and of tl : - (tovernmeiii. Ilis inuTleetual limila--1 ions are probably considerable, and lie has not shown any marked aptitude for leadership. The choice wiM bo made with Mr St.owarl out of the country. which i- bound to tell against him. .Much, la-wever. imiv d ■- pend upon the latest eejeirls ~j' bis la-alt b. 1

'■ I’OI/ITICali outlook. j [nr TKLI’GIUPU—ri’.R I'RRSS ASSOCIATION' •' \V i... 1.1 N'(;'l (:X. May 17. 11«* tin i-< 1i 11 ill.' | .:! it i ■ I .—it u:t l ism Mi 1 Witty. Colonel 11,'ll. mill Mr l„ I.xitt ' I nSlid that il! liny vuti' nf lln-i nil I’ll li'llrc | ill tin' Government lu v.liicli viit** uai nil a? lied i lu* ion <d extiviju* Labour ( aiiiiLr iiii > ji iuvr. th;-v would VI)lo Wl’ili l lit* (lii.'tTllHit'lll. * He I! ,u\] : “'I tal..- it t?,. : ! <l>“ > li-'i ■ jTs.ve does not Mill, 1 Mr Massey." THK I.IISKIIAI.S. WKLUXOTOX. M ;iy 17. Mr T. Al. Wilt’,ml has no t-I:it<■ im.'nt to make. Mr Horn (WaUatipiD and Mr Mitrd'vli iMar-'.Kin have been i-No• 11 ■<] to tin' ex lit ’ ;| K . Liberal Party. MI.VISTKI! IJKADY TO RLSIGX. WKU.IXGTOX. May 17. >ir Heat'll) Rhode- .-aid that lie was ready to ivlinqui-h hi- portfolio at any i i me. FRAXKI.YX SKAT. AITKI.AX!). May Hi. Tli' 1 (’•.•sultry Party have de iiled in mutest the I'r-'nilt 1 i ii Seat. It is -tated that the seleeti, n of their • •;11 1 ii,i. 1 1<■ nil! he made in a feu' day-