WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

GOVERNMENT HV THE I'll ESS

A CROSS I.M PERTINENCE.'’

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, Al ay 21. A 111■ 111 1 iri- i>(•(_■ uj >yi:iix a high place in the 11 ou.-e of Represent aLives, u lio pru-le-'C.s in hale no designs himseli upon ihe leadership of ihe lietonn pally, com plain.-- that a dozen newspaper.-. 1 1 u-ii previously iiail displayed little interest in the welfare of the parly, an- now arrogating to i hem-el vcs the right to nominate a .successor to -Mr Alas.-cy. lie regards it as gross impertinence on tin 1 part ol these papets Lo attempt to create a public opinion that will favour or discredit this candidate or that. It is a flagrant breach of all ctioticUe, and precedent in such n'nucr-. lie declares, and should he resented by the general public as well as the Jlnform members of the House. The mein hers know a great deal more a 1 h m 1 the candidates lor the Premiership than do all the editors in the i)omimull out together, and they should he allowed to make their choice without

SUV pressure, or even suggestion from rnu.-ide. Of course there is some truth, and a good deal id' (oininon sense in all this ; hut ill these days it would he a hold man who attempted to place any restriction.-, upon the latitude the press permits itself in discussing political prospects and happenings. Nor can it- disregard for the -usicpi ihilit ies of the protesting member in this instance do a great dead of harm. The Rclurtn members of the House will have the last suv in the selection of their leader and their choice probably will he distilled rather by expediency than by any personal predilection. THE .MASTER MIND. It may he in order, however, to say. that whatever the decision of the Reform caucus may be. the party "ill remain under a very deen debt ol gratitude to Sir r raimis Pell, the present Prime Munster, who has handled the dillicult situation created by -Mr Alassev’s death with conspicuous tact and ability. The “Grand Old Man” of the Legislative t.’ouneii has " risen to Hie occasion.” as Mr .Mas.-ey himself

would have said, with a promptitude, a discernment and a dignity that are beyond all praise. One trembles to think what might lone occurred had Mr .Massey pa-sed away leaving only Ids colleagues in the House to deal with the extremely difficult problems he left behind him. ( bans is the only

condition the mention of such a catastrophe sugge-ls. lint Sir Eraimis took hold of tiie situation a - if he had been serving as executor for deceased Prime Ministers for a life time. Toe statement he i-sited after he had been summoned to the a-sisinnc ol the OovernorGeiieral in addition to being a master piero of diltiun was all i n-pi ra turn to his own party and a rea.-siiraiiee to the whole < omnmiiity. That a personality -o iiopre-sive and an intellect so alert are nil available to the Relormers in the I louse i- their great misfortune. It is living stated that when Sir Era tin's retire- from Ids present oiTice Parliament will be deprived of hi- services altogether. If that is the ea.se hi- retirement will he a great, national In--. DEKORK OR AFTER. A fusion between the Reformers and i the Liberals.. in order that the menace of Labour imiv he averted, is still he- [ big urged by tlm local papers and | many of lhe politician-, inside and milsiile of Parliament, but just how and '.'.hen and where it • hotihl he effected is a problem m which no on-' appears to have given anv very serious allonium. it i- siigg.ested. perhaps not tin- ! fairly, that the anxiety of ihe l!"'iin:iers for tiie i es-aiion of strife between the two parlies is mainly due to their realisation ol the I'm f that with I It" removal of Mr .Massey more than half Ihe pris-tige ami force of their own

pai i.,' lias vaui-lied. Even the Belonii- J el's. however. (In mil yet seem In have ; mail ' mi their leimls a.s In whether t.lio j propo-ed |u- inh should Ia he |ilaee l.e- | eleetimi. They have a rnudidate mil: lor j the Franklin seat, in sm-ees.-idii lo Mr Mn--ey, a ho. apparently. is going the " hole hoy ” mi parly lines ami count - me, ll |»>n I lif ililileil support ni' (he Keinrm eleetnrs of (lie enlist i tiieney. li would have been a happier augury for 1115,,,n lout Me -M IKscy's son been' sit.to Ln contest lliis seat vs it h a fusion policy

calling |or no s.neriiiee nl prini-iple on either side. As Hung- stand it i- fairly nle, nets I lie,l. neilhcr I lie Bcfnriners linr the Liberals are anxious I'nr fusion, e.'.eept as a means id slaying the prnt.i'ess of hi Moil r and securing lor lliemsi‘h es soie.e measure nl sL;ll>i lit in the counsels nl Ilia mu ion. 11!!■: 1.11!!';!;.'.!, ati ncm;. a lea 11 v. liile. the leader of I lie Liberal , Opposition is waitiiiy; lor some move to be made iront the other side. \o eie- appreciates |):e value of inactivity in sueti ei reu in -1 a lie,-- more lulls- than .Mr Millord does. The initiative, of enttr ,e, rests v, ilh I lie Bcfoi'ltlers am! an.il allei' the canciis next, week for t-'e selection ol a leader no further developments can he expected. Then, it tiles- are sincere in I heir desire for lusion. ami prepared to discuss itsenuMimnintion on a reasonable basis, tbev "ill approaeli the Liberals with their proposals. These may include a change' in the name ol the parts' Iron! Deform to .National and the admission of two or three Li bo rubs lo the Cabinet. 'ldle Liberals in addition to giving consideration to the proposals ol their opponents will make proposals of their own. .M.r Wilford and his nolle fiJulies will I»o I lacking in consistency and in tactical understanding if they do not insist upon electoral refonu of a very sweeping' character being suhinitted to the new Parliament dining its lir.st session. V'hlh this conceded, the Liberals, at any rate, could very well afford to van the developments of events and the verdiel ol the const i tueneies. If the arrangement hetwoen the parties bent no further than the avoidance of v<| t" split tiny between Deform and l.il.eral candidate- at the forthcoming ( ’l"clion it would be a great help towards the establishment of a stable (lovcrninont and towards a just estimate of the full strength of the Labour Partv. ,