THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1045, 18 May 1912, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

INTERVIEW WITH MR EDWARD NEWMAN, M.P.

When in Foxton last Tuesday, Mr Edward Newman, M.P. for Raugitikei, was interviewed bv our representative and asked to give bis opinion on the present political situation. Mr Newman said that in view of the statements reported to have beer, made by cue Hon. J. A. Millar aud Mr E. H. Clark, member for Chalmers, the defeat or the present Ministry was practically assured. Mr Newman said that in his opinion the country would not regret the ousting of the Mackenzie Government, as the Minister had attained their positions by reprehensible aim unconstitutional methods, and further, they had not given the House au opportunity to either approve or disapprove of their policy (?). As a matter of fact they had no policy. The only point upon which members of the Cabinet might be said to agree upon was that they should never all be-in Wellington at the same time. They appeared to regard perpetual motion as essential to political success, with the result that it was positively dazzling to try and keep pace with the Ministerial flights. Any excuse will justify a Minister travelling from one end of New Zealand to the other. Last week the Postmaster General journeyed from heaven knows where to Rangiwahia to open a post office that had already been open for the transaction of public business since November 1911. Could anything be more absurd ? asked Mr Newman, and still they want more paid Ministers. A return oi Ministers’ travelling expenses from the time of their appointment until the House meets would make interesting reading. Asked his opinion as to what would happen should the present Ministry be defeated, Mr Newman replied that it would be a very difficult thing to forecast. He had noticed that the late member for the Otaki electorate, Mr W. H. Field, an experienced politician aud an astute observer, expects that the parties will fall into two camps, which he designates Moderate-Liberals aud Radical-Liberals. Mr Newman agreed that the opinions expressed by Mr Field were not far wrong, aud also that the ModerateLiberals that the late member tor Otaki would support will predominate, aud will include the present Reform Party, The present extraordinary combination of extreme Radicals, led by au exOpposition member, could not last, opined Mr Newman. Personally, he considered it was the duty of all politicians to sink minor differences and aim at securing a strong moderate aud progressive Ministry, aud this could only be done by the obliteration of party lines as the\ existed before last election.

MR MASSES’S OPINION

Auckland, May 17.

“Never iu my experience, ” remarked Mr Massey to a Herald representative, “has there been such a wave of feeling against the Government as there is at present. Never has there been such keen interest taken in the Reform party ; never were there so many good men offering themselves as candidates, and never so much goodwill expressed towards the Reform party by all sections ot the community as at present, notwithstanding that Ministers think it necessary to continue abusing and misrepresenting me. Personally, 1. think those tactics on the part oi the Ministry are good signs, and 1 hope they will persevere.’’ What will happen when the session opens Mr Massey was asked.

“The inture is on the lap of the gods, - ’ he replied. “But I believe everyone of the present Ministers brings me nearer the goal at which I have been aiming lor years, and that is to get all the sane, sensible, and really progressive men on one side ot the House and to place all faddists, fanatics and opportunists on the other.”

HON. J. COLVIN SPEAKS

“ I feel sure,” said the Hon. J. Colvin, Minister lor Mines, on Wednesday, “ that the country is in tavour ol giving the present Ministry a chance. I cannot speak with the same certainty ot the House, but I think the House will allow the Government to bring down its policy, aud then I think we shall be able to survive. He would not, however, say that the policy would not be announced before the House met.