GOVERNMENT ENTITLED TO OFFICE.

Shannon News, 24 January 1923, Page 3

GOVERNMENT ENTITLED TO OFFICE.

SIR JOHN FINDLAY'S VIEWS. In an interview at Timaru, Sir John Findlay discussed the political situation as resulting from the election. He said it would be impossible to avoid another election unless there was either an alliance between the Reform and Liberal Parties or a reinforcement of the former by as many members of the latter as would give Mr Massey a, working majority. The tatter had by far the largest party in the present House, and the addition of five members to his ranks would give him the numerical strength required for stable government. Tihe policies of the two parties had steadily converged upon each other—there was now really little that i materially separates them.

Asked concerning Ihe position of the Prime Minister in retaining office for the present without a majority in the House, Sir John said the position was stated in Halsbury's "Laws of England," volume 7, page 34 and following pages. Here the position would be found summarised as follows. "It is recognised that the continuance of a Ministry in office is ultimately dependent upen the support of the electorate, and where These declare a majority against the Government, it is usual for the Ministry either to resign immediately or to wait until the House meets and an adverse vote has been carried. Instances of the course followed when an Administration 'ha& suffered a defeat at the polls are as follows: In 1868 the resignations of the third Derby and first Disraeli Administrations were handed in upon an adverse verdict at the polls before the meeting of Parliament. Of subsequent Ministries, three—the first Gladstone Ministry in 1874, the second Disraeli Ministry in 1880, and the third Gladstone Ministry in 1886—retired immediately upon an adverse verdict at the polls, while in three cases, namely the first and second Salisbury Ministries in 1886 and 1892, and the last guiding precedent, the Balfour Ministry in 1905, the Ministers, though returned in a minority .waited a vote of want-of-confidencp. in- the House before- resigning."

Continuing, Sir John Findlay said u would be seen from this that there was no uniform constitutional rule on the point and that Mr Massey was therefore entitled to retain office until the meeting of the House, although Hie general election left his party without a majority. It should he remembered —Sir John added—that Ministers were appointed by the King, and were not the servants of the House, although ultimately their continuance in office was dependent upon the goodwill of the House. There were several instances in England where Ministers, though defeated at the polls, had continued in office for some considerable time aftenvards. On one occasion* Mr Gladstone had done ;o for several months.