HON. GEO. FOWLDS RESIGNS FROM THE MINISTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1040, 7 September 1911, Page 2

HON. GEO. FOWLDS RESIGNS FROM THE MINISTRY.

THE PREMIER EXPLAINS.

THE MINISTER’S REASONS

THE WRITING ON THE WALE.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the Premier announced the resignation of the Hon. George Fowlds, He said he regretted the severance from ins esteemed friend. Mr Fowlds had been in the Ministry for five years and on no occasion had cross word taken place between any of them. He acknowledged the ability and great public spirit manifested by Mr Fowlds. “As friends we met, as friends we part, and friends we will always be,” concluded the Premier.

The Hon. George Fowlds said he would like to say a few words to supplement the statement of Sir Joseph Ward. He had not taken the step of retirement from the Cabinet on account of any personal differences between the Prime Minister or his colleagues and himself, because his relations personally and officially with them had been of the most harmonious character. Notwithstanding the fact that his and their political ideas had been most widely divergent on many questions, he could honestly say it was with deep regret that he was compelled to take the step he now took. To some extent his action had been precipitated by the division that took place some weeks ago on the Town Planning Bill. The political significance of the vote was momentous. That a substantial number of members of the Government should by their votes say that while they were not prepared to trust the Government as a whole sitting with the Governor-in-Council to do certain important administrative acts, they were prepared to entrust these acts to a board of Government officials, with perhaps one Minister sitting as a member or a chairman, was to his mind symptomatic of a veryi serious condition of affairs. That condition, as it appeared to him, was one of dissatisfaction and unrest in the party in relations with its representatives who composed the Government. Proceeding, Mr Fowlds said, “I have had no indication that such dissatisfaction centres itself on me personally, but I have felt it impossible for me

to remain a member of a Government which was unable to secure that measure of party necessary to carry on the Government of the country with some degree of dignity and self-respect. I have never been greatly enamoured of party Government, but until we have evolved both the machinery and the public spirit necessary to make some other form ot Government possible, it is essential that a Governmeut should have such support as would enable it to carry out its functions in a reasonably dignified manner. When it is unable to do that its usefulness has gone.” Mr Fowlds went on to say that he entered public life for the attainment of ideals and not with the object of attaining and maintaining power. The call to the Ministery was unsolicited, either by or for him and he accepted it in the spirit of service willing and anxious at any time to step aside if he could do better lor his country out of office than in. That conviction had now come to him and had dictated the step he had taken. He thought he might claim in a modest way that his administration of the Departments T entrusted to him had not been a failure and he acknowledged the able and loyal assistance of his staff. He did not go out to form a new cult. He was conscious of the great work Liberalism had done for New Zealand and he believed that when the history was written, an honoured place would be given to the legislation of Sir Joseph Ward, continued Mr Fowlds, “ but the times in which we live demand a new evangel, a gospel which I j(ave felt I could not preach as a member of the present Government, and so I have decided for freedom in order that I might express my soul to the people of New Zealand.” Some of his friends on the Opposition side would probably say that he was scuttling out of a sinking ship, but the only inducement that would have kept him on the Government ship would have been that of battling with adverse Opposition gales. In his judgment, the present Opposition did not constitute a factor in the futurepolitical life of this country. He believed no Government in New Zealand ever went to the country with less fear. In his opinion the present leader of the Liberal party, ever since last election, had had his eye focussed too much on the Opposition and too little on the forces that had been developing in advance of the Liberal party. In fairness to Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues he rebutted the charges of corruption and Tammanyism which had been levelled against the Government. In concluding, Mr Fowlds said, ‘‘And now I have only to express my thanks to the members of the Government party and of the House generally for their kindness and courtesy shown me while I _ have been a Minister of the Crown, and to say that whenever a truly democratic party arises in this country, a parly pledged to definite principles—principles which it believes in and which it is prepared to fight for —it shall have my whole-souled support, and if it should become numerous enough to enable it to form a Government and invites me to join it, my services will be avai> able. In the meantime I believe P can best serve the country as a private member.”

MR FOWLDS INTERVIEWED.

As he walked from .the House into the lobby, Mr Fowlds was met by a group of members eager, of course, to express their surprise at his decision, and throughout the afternoon and the evening he was called up by his friends to discuss the matter over and over again. At a late hour he gave a hurried interview to a pressman. “ My resignation is not the result of a sudden impulse,” he said. “ I have carefully considered that it was an anomalous one. I have adopted the only course open to me. I believe the Government has lost its hold on the country. The dissatisfaction of the supporters of the Government which I believe exists is but a reflection of the dissatisfaction with which the Government is regarded throughout the country. The country is calling for a more forward policy than I see any prospect of getting from the Government. A policy more in line with the principles which I have advocated all my life. The crying need of New Zealand today is a reduction in the cost of living. The best means towards that result is an increase in the tax on land values, the abolition of taxation on all the necessaries of life, and a reduction in railway freights that will bring the produce of the country into touch with the consumers at a lower cost. Ido not see any prospect of progress in that direction under the present policy of the Government. I do not propose to enunciate any new policy.”

HOW THE RESIGNATION WAS RECEIVED.

There can be not the slightest doubt that the resignation came as a staggering blow to the Ministerial supporters. One prominent supporter said the country members were all very pleased. Another said “ It’s a terrible thing for the Government. He might have waited till after the elections.” Yet another: “This is the biggest blow the party has received for many a year.” A member of the Opposition said; “ It looks as if it might mean the smashing of the Government. Some of the party to whom I have spoken seem furious that Mr Fowlds should have put them in

such a position on the eve of an election.”

A country member expressed strong resentment at the manner in which the supporters of the Government had been forbidden to discuss the subject. “Mr Fowlds was never fitted for the position,” he added. “My constituents will be greatly relieved by his resignation, for they have always been uneasy regarding his single-tax conviction.” The Leader of the Opposition declines to say anything in regard to the new situation that has arisen. “In the meantime,” said Mr Massey, “it is a matter between Mr Fowlds and the Government Party.” “ I’U put the position from our point of view in a few days.” The Hon. J. T. Paul, Labour member in the Upper House, said : The statement made by Mr Fowlds was marked by courage, and did him credit. The country has lost a capable administrator, who was responsible for the introduction of new lines of progress in our legislation, and who was always actuated by a high humanitarian ideal.

A member of the Opposition said: “The general feeling on both sides is that Mr Fowlds has not considered the interests of his party. Some of the Government members have spoken to me and I can see that the average Government supporter is lurious over it.”

CHEERS FOR MR FOWLDS !

Dunedin, September 5.

At a meeetiug ot the Dunedin branch of the Dabour Party tonight, the following motion was carried : “ That this branch desires to offer to the Hon. Geo. Fowlds its sincere congratulations for the position he has taken up in separating himself Irom the Ministry, and to record its entire appreciation of the reason for the step taken by the hon. gentleman, ana wishes him many years of successful political work in the future,’’

Three cheers were given for Mr Fowlds.