POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 300, 17 December 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL.

J • . > ■ ~ I ■ K-, STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY.

CABINET TO MEET AT EARLIEST

OPPORTUNITY.

Per! Press Association,

Wellington, December 17

In reply to 3 a statement made by the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister (Mr Massey), interviewed by a Post reporter, said: “I cannot forget the action, or rather the inaction of Sir Joseph Ward and his Party after the last election, when the country had*- 1 definitely declared against them. ‘ Parliament was not convened 'until (I speak from memory) about the third week in 'February. , 1 do not propose to follow any such example. There may be other changes yet, but you can take it from me that the Government will play the game, and, do the right thing under the circumstances. The Cabinet will meet at the earliest opportunity to' consider the new position that has arisen. If we cannot carry on, there is certainly no other Party in New Zealand at the present moment that can do so. The Reform Party is a united party. ' The Opposition ; consists of two sections, which have practically nothing in common, except perhaps, the desire to punish the Government for doing its duty last session, and as a consequence to occupy the-Treasury benches. Ido not consider the position fully decided yet, and there may bo changes where there are recounts. As for the Northern Maori member, I can only say that I know Mr Tau Honare well, and there is no better type of Maori member in Parliament, and I have no doubt as to iris attitude.”