The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1913. STILL LEADERLESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 75, 2 August 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 191 3. STILL LEADERLESS.

Sir Joseph Ward’s return to New Zcajland lias been awaited with considerI able interest, for there has been much | speculation as to what attitude he | would adopt so far as the Leadership |of the Opposition is concerned. No I time was lost in endeavouring to as- | certain Sir Joseph’s intentions, for i almost immediately the ship he was i travelling hy reached Auckland yesterj day, he was approached on the mat- | ter. To those who desire the exPremier to again take up the leadership his reply must he distinctly disappointing, for lie made one or two I facts pretty Hear. First and forejmost ho made it plain that the- old I party has disappeared, or at any rate I has split into such factions that it practically is non-existent, and that it I was no good glossing this fact over. I He also plainly indicated that, for the 1 future, he had no intentions, and that hit this, present (ime he will not doi dare his attitude in politics. Sir i Joseph said a great deal ; lie said some very proper tilings ami even some very pretty things: but what he said was] not what he was wanted to say to pntj at rest the minds of New Evangels andj ether odd people with fads and fancies and aspirations. If Sir Joseph bad said right out: “You have treated me badly and I will have none ofj yon.” the road to an extent wouldj have been cl on red. Or if, on the! oilier hand, he had said : “I am will-!

h’o- in once again piano my sorviocsj ;in Loader at your disposal,” many would have known that one of tlm very ablest men in Now Zealand poli-

tics was at tho head of a. Parly, and would possibly have seen their rvay to offer allegiance. Put he lias spoken and said nothing: political chaos, outside the Government ranks, reigns supreme, and for those who are not with the (government, the position is al. most as cheerful in outlook as it was to the Opposition that faced the legions of Mr Seddon.