POLITICAL SITUATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 29 December 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION.

RESOLUTION BY STRATFORD LIBERAL LEAGUE.

FORWARDED TO THE PREMIER

The following letter, dated December 28th, has been forwarded to the Premier:—At a meeting of the executive of the Liberal League, held at Stratford last evening, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “This meeting desires to place on record its high appreciation of Sir Joseph Ward’s Government for its splendid S humane and progressive legislation placed on the Statute Books. We have only to point to the National Endowment, Advances to Workers, National Provident Fund, amendment to Old Age Pension Act, by reducing the ago limit, and granting pensions to widows irrespective of age; also to reducing taxation on the necessaries of life, passed by the Ward Government for the benefit of the masses of this Dominion. We regret exceedingly that, although the Government has met with a temporary set back, we, the Liberals of Stratford, desire to express our unbounded confidence in Sir Joseph Ward, who lias done so much for the small farmers and workers of this Dominion, and earnestly hope the Ward Government will command a working majority in the now Parliament, to successfully carry on the good work as heretofore. We can assure Sir Joseph the gross misrepresentations and inuendoes used at the last election will have a very damaging effect on our opponents at the next election, and we would further add, that all questions of a private personal character should, in ouropinion, be eliminated from nolitics in this fair young country, such being detrimental to its best interests and the general welfare of all.” A CAUCUS OF LIBERALS AT CHRISTCHURCH. NO NEWS AVAILABLE. (Per Press Association.) ChrisUdiurch, December 28. The South Island members of the Government party were summoned _to Christchurch to attend a caucus which was held in Warner’s Hotel this morning. ’There seemed to have been a fairly unanimous response to the invitation, as Government members from the West Coast and Southland were present. ‘ The caucus started about 11.30 a.m., when the following were present: S:r Arthur Guinness (Grey), Mr John Colvin (Duller),' Mr T. E. Y. Sodden (Westland), Mr G. Witty (Riccarton), Mr H. G. Ell (Christchurch South), Mr T. H. Davey (Christchurch East), Mr L. M. Tsitt (Christchurch North), Mr G. Laurerison (Lyttelton), Mr G. W. Russell (Avon), Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui), Mr W. J. Dickie (Sclwyn), Mr T. Buxton "(Temuka), Mr Jam Craigio (Tijnarii), Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace), !Mr J. LA. Hanan (Invercargill), Mr Tf K. Sidey (Dunedin South), and Mr R. "McCallum (Wairau). The only South Island supporter of the Government party not,present was Mr E. Hi' Clark, ! the member for Chalmers. He telegraphed explaining that lie : had;received the wire inviting him”tb) the, canciis too late to enable him |tbjhe’ 'present. ‘ ' ,-j A very ( considerable'amonnt of importance 'wis 'uHaehhd to the gathering, as thb Goverhment is in a majority in the South Island, and in a considerable minority in the North. The caucus concluded about noon. A reporter then, interviewed the Premier, who said that lie had no announcement to make. It was a private gathering, and it was not Ids intention to make a statement as to what would be done. He was not ready to m^ke. that announcement. Several .members who had been present at '.tjje. gaucus ' were seen by : reporters, .^ui' they, had nothing of any importance ,to, say. It was very evident that one and all had been ajskcd to regard; the proceedings as secret. Speculation was rife as to the turn the discussion had taken, but there was no “official” report, and members were entirely non-committal. The southern members will probably leave for the south to-morrow, and the West Coasters will go on to Wellington. A message received this morning states that there will be a similar meeting of North Island Government members in Wellington to-morrow.