THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1338, 19 December 1914, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

MR. TAU HENARE’3 POST TION.

Interviewed at Auckland on the political situation, after the declaration of the recount for the Hawke’s Bay electoral district, Sir Joseph Ward remarked that it had developed in an unexpected way. The parties were now even. “This," added the Leader of the Opposition, “makes the course which the Government should take quite clear. I take it that the constitutional position must be followed. The Government are now iu an actual minority in the House, as they must necessarily appoint a Speaker. “There is, therefore, one of two courses that must he adopted by the Government. Either they must resign, or they must call Parliament together without any unnecessary delay. “As it is at present, it is quite clear that the Governor is without constitutional advisers who have the ‘confidence of the country and the House ; that is a position that canuot be maintained or trifled with.

“Apart from this, there is considerable doubt as to the position of the Northern Maori member, who is at present included as a Government supporter iu the counting of the Party votes.”

In reply to the statement by the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister, in au inteiview by a Dominion reporter, said ; “I cannot forget the action, or rather, inaction, of Sir Joseph Ward and his party after last election, when the country definitely decided against them, Parliament was not convened until (speaking from memory) about the third week in February, I do not propose to follow any such example. There may be other changes yet, but you can take it from me the Government will play the game, and do the right thing under the circumstances. Cabinet will meet at the earliest opportunity to consider the new position that has arisen, and it will decide upon a definite course. One thing is quite certain ; if vve cannot carry on, there is no other party in New Zealand at the present time that can do so. The Reform Party is a united party. The Opposition consists of at least two sections, which have practically nothing in common except, perhaps, a desire to punish the Government for doing its duty last year, and, as a consequence, to occupy the Treasury benches.

“May I suggest to Sir Joseph Ward that it would have been, I think, better form on his part if he bad exhibited a little more patience. Three years ago the then leader of the Opposition sac back lor six weeks and practically said nothing to embarrass the Government in Power, allowed them to formulate their plans, and make all the necessary arrangements before calling Parliament together, and it might have been better if on this occasion Sir Joseph Ward had taken a leaf out of our book. In several cases the official declarations ot the polls have not been made, and in other eases recounts have been applied for, so that there is no certainly yet as to what the final result will be.”

Ai'CKi.ANn, Dec. 17. An interesting dispatch has been received from the Herald’s Kawakawa correspondent with reference to the attitude ot Mr Tau iienare, the political representative of the Northern Maori District, concerning whom there are many inquiries during the last few days. The newly-elected member has received great numbers of letters and telegrams from men in prominent places, but he has declined to make any definite announcement. Several Taiana chiefs assert that they supported Tau Henare because they believed he would support Sir Joseph Ward, and they now demand that he declare himself within a week. Other influential Natives have telegraphed to Tau Henare suggesting a conference of eight tribal representatives to decide what party he will support, but Tau Henare only replied: ‘Call to your mind the saying of our ancestors, “If the karaka berry is eaten too soon it makes one drunk.’ Several Whangarei gentlemen telegraphed Tau Henare, asking whether he supported Mr Massey or Sir Joseph Ward, and he replied with all courtesy that he would allow them two guesses,

A movement is on foot to present a petition against the election of Tau Henare on the ground that at several places there were no European returning officers, and that at one place the booth was not even open. The correspondent, after remarking that this morning Tau Henare was deluged with correspondence, and hearing a rumour that the Opposition organiser was in the district, left on a visit to the bush in the backblocks, proceeds : —ln the course of an interview with the Herald correspondent, Tau Henare said that he was not pledged to either party, but his general inclination was to support the present Government on a vvant-ot-confidence motion. He would not be a party mam He would represent the .Northern Maoris, many of whom were on either side. He was not a plaything to be found in Mr Massey's pocket or Sir Joseph Ward’s pocket, and be was not a dog to respond to the crack of the party whip.