POLITICAL SITUATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 5 January 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL SITUATION.

PREMIER CON FEUS WITH ttOu 1 11EHaS Llb I<JU Ai j!S. NOTHING TO SAY. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, January 4. The Prime Munster art Ned m loan to-day from Wellington, and spent the morning at Warner s Hotel, c.isom-smg tne political situation w.tii local members of Parliament belonging to bis party. Those wlio had auiUuce with Sir Joseph Ward were: Sir Arthur Guinness, and Messrs. L. M. i&itt, G. W. Russell, T. 11. Davey, H. G. Eli, and Geo. Witty, M.’s P. They left the hotel about lz.3U p.m., and Sir Joseph followed shortly afterwards. | ‘“l’ve got nothing to say,’' no exclaimed uirectly he caught sght of,a reporter..; . . . •‘Will thq .conference be ooiminued ‘this afternoon t”' lid F is ashed; ‘ / “There Was no ■ conf weiic V’ he replied,'“and 1 can’t say what I will be doing this afternoon. • Tic-member,” he added, as lie rushed away, 'there was no-conference. ’■ ■ ISir’JoyepJi'Ward was seen 'ater on in the day, but be repeated his assurance that'he had nothing whatever to communicate. . SOME PRESS SPECULATION. Compared' with • 3ir Josepii Ward just now, an oyster is almost loquacious (says the Chnsce'inrcn “Press”). Blit while .the 'recluse of Awurua House maintains stern reticence as to his intentions and the date when Parliament is to bo called together the telegraph officers in Wellington have been told that they cannot have their usual holidays at present. Winch sounds faintly like a revised version of the story of the clergyman’s child who was asked by an inquisitive visitor whether her father was going to accept the call he had received to aijntue. v church. “Oh, yes,” was the reply, “pa’s in the study praying for guidance, but ma’s upstairs, paciring up.” The idea is gaining ground, says the Eltham “Argus,” and we ‘mould say that there are good reasons for it, that the Prime Minister will not call the House together until after the 31st March, which is the close of the financial year. The “Inglewood Recoid,” which is a strong Opposition paper, considers it only fair that Sir Joseph Ward should be allowed a little breathing time, in which to consider the present position. The “Record,” c;o ••{hading an editorial headed “Why This Haste?” says: “We notice the ‘Dominion’ censures Sir Joseph because bo refuses to trust the people, but has Sir Jos--eph, at this particular juncture, any great reason for trusting the people? And if the people won’t trust him, how can they expect to be trusted by him ? Wc certainly think that in ail fairness Sir Joseph might be permitted to rest in peace until bis own holy appointed time—loth January— For giving a definite statement of his position.” The term of Sir W. Hall-Joncs’ appointment as High Commissioner was duo to expire at the end of this month, • but it has been extended by the Government until March 31st next, says the Manain “Witness.” Meantime there is much speculation as to who V going to get this luscious plum—whether the Premier intends it for himself as something to sweeten a future that at the present moment does not certainly look ton alluring for him in the public life of the Domiir'on. This is one of the moves that the Opposition are most keenly watching, and if it should happen to come off there will be such a cyclonic yell is the Dominion has not hoard since the days of Sir Harry Atkinson, when, even more badly beaten than Sir J. Ward at the present moment, bo induced Governor Onslow to countenance the appointment of the “Twelve Apostle s” to the Legislative Council.