Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1928. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3873, 20 November 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1928. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

MR. COATES conferred with his colleagues at Wellington on Saturday. It Avill not be known what action Mr. Coates intends to take until the final results are beyond doubt. The leaders of both the opposition parties have tendered advice as to what should be done by Mr. Coates in the circumstances but beyond the statement made by the Prime Minister on the night of defeat, that “the nountrys interest would be his first consideration” no further statement has been made by him. The Independent member for Nelson, Mr. H. Atmore sends out a bombastic message to the effeat, that “the' country’s interest Hare not face another election fpr fear of complete annihilation. Mr. Atmore’s motive in making such a “bold” assertion is transparent.. Sir Joseph Ward recommends Mr. Coates’ immediate resignation. The safest course appears to be for Parliament to be summoned and as the Dominion points out, a vote could then be taken and the strength of parties clearly demonstrated. Assuming, as would appear to he certain, that the Government is beaten on a no-eonlidence motion moved by Sir Joseph Ward and supported by . the Labour-Socialist Party, then Mr. Coates would recommend that Sir Joseph Ward be sent for by His Excellency the Go-vernor-General, and presumably he would be asked to form a Government. The country would then see the unfortunate position reached. The fact should not be lost sight of that the Reform Party is still the strongest party in Parliament; and at the moment the United Party is helpless without the help of the Labour-Socialists.