THE POLITICAL ARENA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 69, 16 March 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL ARENA.

SIR JOSEPH WARD WILL NOT ACCEPT PORTFOLIO.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, March 15. A Dunedin suggestion that the leadership of the Liberal-Labour Party had been allocated to Hon. J. A. Mi liar was mentioned to the Prime Minister on his arrival in Wellington from the North to-night. Sir Joseph Ward said, “The position is- exactly as I indicated * t 0 the House. I have not changed the opinion I arrived at, and which I publicly stated. The suggestion that 1 made an equivocal reference as to the colleagues to be selected by the new leader has no justification. 1 have held one opinion all along—namely, that the new leader should select his own colleagues, and I have never at any time suggested that the new leader should be ) hampered in his selection by submitting his' prospective Cabinet to a caucus meeting. I have been communicated with since my arrival here regarding the suggestion that I was likely to hold a portfolio in the now Ministry, but I should like to give it an emphatic contradiction, as I have no intention of doing anything of the kind,” A STORMY MEETING. Auckland, March 15; A stormy meeting of about 700 met Mr. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn, tonight. "The proceedings lasted nearly four hours, during which Mr. Payne, in spite of much hostile demonstration, delivered his speech. After questions had been answered, the meeting closed in uproar, no motion being carLEGAL PROCEEDINGS. Auckland,, March lij. . At his meeting to-night, Mr. Payne declared that, as the' famous letter, i -had been declared' a hrfe'ach of pipvilige, he intended to commence a legal action against Mri Mafcsey.