The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1930 RUMOUR ABOUT THE CABINET

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 971, 14 May 1930, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1930 RUMOUR ABOUT THE CABINET

THERE is a persistent rumour in Auckland that the main outcome of the Cabinet’s special meeting at Rotorua today will be the early resignation of Sir Joseph Ward, Prime Minister and Leader of the United Party. It is not easy to find firjn ground for the political prediction, although it might be less difficult to construct valid reasons for it. Everything considered, however, the rumour may be set aside at the moment as a wish of partisan opponents that is father to their thought. In view of the protracted indisposition of the veteran Prime Minister, it may be necessary for his-(Colleagues to discuss the risk of placing upon him the responsibility and anxiety of an arduous session in which the minority Government, with a poor record of service to its credit, will have to face lively opposition and take part in a hard political fight. It has been a pleasure to most people to know that competent treatment at Rotorua has been of immense benefit to Sir Joseph Ward who, whatever anyone may think of his politics, has few enemies in the country, but it cannot yet be said that a promising restoration to something like normal health has been sufficient to equip him for a party campaign throughout a prospectively long session. Although everybody will hope that further medical attention at Rotorua will enable him to take his place as leader of the House of Representatives toward the end of next month, it still is too much to expect a convalescent to dominate the hurly-burly of party politics with anything like his former and formidable vigour. To those who take a close interest in political affairs, however, it seems just now that the rumour as to the Prime Minister’s impending resignation is the sort of conjecture that would justify the Government in saying in its leader’s behalf, “an enemy hath done this.”

But Cabinet at least should do everything possible to lighten the Prime Minister’s forthcoming task. This may be accomplished most effectively by a thorough preparation of the Government’s sessional programme of legislative proposals. Too often in the past successive Ministers have indulged the bad habit of meeting Parliament with nothing in their heads except good intentions, content in a wily way to take a lead from the best thinkers in the Opposition. There is no excuse for such a laggard policy on this occasion. The debates in the House of Representatives last year demonstrated too vividly the lamentable fact that, in respect of new political ideas, initiative and the courage that promotes enterprise, Parliament is as barren as desert places. Circumstances have revealed to politicians generally and to the Government in particular the country’s principal needs as far as the work of the Legislature is concerned. And the first need involves the question of national finance. The State is confronted with a diminished X'evenue at a time when more money than ever before is required fpr public works and the relief of unemployment. So far, by dispersing promises to the four winds, the Government has contrived to balance its Budget and provide a surplus, but only at the increased expense of harassed taxpayers. It cannot expect to be permitted to extend that process of legalised political robbery without a disciplinary protest from the whole country. And the Government need not prate about the Dominion’s high credit overseas, or boast over its own work so long as New Zealand stands in the notorious position of being the second-highest taxed community in the world. Moreover, the embarrassed Ministry, whose talent has yet to be discovered and revealed, may not hope to repeat with public tolerance its foolish assertion of ability to banish unemployment within five weeks. It will deserve and receive full credit if it should be able to perform that boastful magic between now and Christmas. There is a grim necessity for a quick practice of unemployment relief. Distress is extensive and severe, and the worst of the winter season has yet to be experienced. Perhaps the most sensational fesult of the Rotorua assembly of administrators today will be the retirement of the Government’s only statesman from active polities and the injurious worry of party fighting, but, as mentioned previously in this column, a more acceptable political sensation would be a conclusive demonstration of the Ministry’s ability to solve a few of the Dominion’s most pressing and most extravagant problems. BRITISH RUGBY TOUR TODAY New Zealand welcomes the first British Rugby team that has visited this country for 22 years. It is a curious thing that so long a period should have elapsed between visits when at an earlier stage, in which communications and transport were not nearly so good, three visits were made within twenty years. Of these the first, which made history, was that of Stoddart’s team which, like McLagan’s famous team in South Africa, taught colonial players a great deal that they might have been a long time in finding out for themselves. The second visit was made by D. R. Bedell-Sivwright’s team, and aroused Rugby enthusiasm in this country to a frantic pitch which has probably never since been equalled, and certainly never surpassed. After the visit of Bedell-Sivwright’s team, which even in defeat was a really great side, -that of Harding’s Anglo-Welsh team four years later was a distinct anti-climax. Harding’s team suffered some of the heaviest defeats ever inflicted on an international side. In the meantime New Zealand’s first tour of England had taken place. The redoubtable “original All Blacks” made history as no other side is likely to make it. But for the war, another side would have gone to England about 1915 or ’l6, returning the visit of Harding’s team; but the outbreak of war turned the spirit and energies of footballers to a sterner business, and many a gallant soul was to tread the firm turf of the Rugby field*no more. The war probably did more for Rugby football as an Imperial force than even the game’s most ardent admirers realise. If earlier the footballers of the Dominions and the Motherland had admired each other as players, now they respected each other as men, and as something more, as patriots. The New Zealand team of 1924 went to England with a new command on the interest of the people, and the British team arriving at Wellington today has the same title to. our respect and affection. As to Rughv, their tour will probably do an immense amount of good for the game in this country. It may show whether New Zealand is right or wrong in some much-discussed departures from the orthodox. It will show whether the old rules are as attractive us the new, and will be an excuse for great gatherings of footballers and enthusiasts, drawn together by their common interest in a game that retains in a wonderful manner its hold on the affections of New Zealanders. There will he partisan feelings, enthusiastic prejudices, and perhaps overmuch exuberance; hut under all this will run the strong current of fair play, the instinctive desire to see the better team win; win on its merits, in a hard, lusty, vigorous tussle, in which every quality of manhood and courage is tested, as it is tested, and always should be tested, in every game worthy of the name. And it is such contests that we are auticipating this winter.