WELLINGTON NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 596, 23 August 1913, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

Own Correspondent.

Wellington, August 20.

I The political sky is decidedly | clearer. Save for passing squall?, | emanating from Opposition waters, j the Government ship is experiencing j a smooth passage. With a good capI tain on bosri, ably officered, fully i mannad, and well looked after, she should make port in good style at the end of the ;e3sion, and find anchorage in well-sheltered quarters. The stomi3 clouda that seemed to be threatening ihc Government existence a week or ten days ago have vanished. There has been a good deal ot wind, but it appears to have largely spent itself, and. to day, with a clear sky overhead an 1 a happy and contended crew, the Government is more than holding its orvn. "There is absolutely not a rift in the iute," was the statement rrade by the Senior Government Whip today. '-Our party," Mr Guthrie proceeded, "was nsver more unite L nor has there ever been a kindlier feeling amongst our members than exists now, and has existed for soma weeks past, Nor have we ever been of our men, or of our

majority. If the Opposition wants to test oar strength (which, by the way, I do not think they do), they can do so; we are ready for them.'" Asked whether there was any truth in the statements made by the New Zealand Time 3, thst there were "dissensions in the Cabinet'; that •'strained relationships" existed between certain Ministers; that the Reformers were quarrelling amongst themselves, and that one Reformer had actually threatened to wring another Reformer's nose, Mr Guthrie laughed. "There is not a word of truth in the lot," he said. 'I suppose th 3 wish is father to the thought in each instance." Mr Massey made much the same reply when the statements were brought under his notice, and MiAnderson, who, with Mr Bradney was supposed to be implicated in the nose-wringing story, bluntly characterised it es a "downright lie "

The Government ia certainly in a strong position; su strong, indsed, that despair seems to have taken hold of the Anti-Reform paper here, and so much so, that it is coin selling the Opposition "to block Supply," and to thus force the Government to go to the country. There is not the least likelihood of the advice so tendered being accepted. The New Zealand Times recently predicted that tha House would be dissolved befora the end of September, and it is evidently desirOU9 of maintaining its credit from the prophetic piint of view, hence its "counsels of despair." It is, of course, quite open to the Opposition to "stonewall" the Government measures and to "block Supply," as the Times advises, but there are always two parties in such a game, and in a real trial of strength (which there is every reason to> believe the Opposition does not want) there is but the one feeling that the Government must win. Added to this, the Opposition is in no mood to enter upon. an attempt which it knows must prove futile.