WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, 11 January 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

j THE COALITION MOVEMENT I (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Janaury 10 j The local newspapers stil! are loath ; to return to the discussion of party | politics, bin the "Dominion" lately J has been giving a hand to the coalition j movement by attaching editorial footI notes to letters on the subject published in its correspondence columns. j On Wednesday one of these footnotes j told the public at large that "what lis wanted is not an ending of the j party truce, but -an ending of old and I largely artificial party divisions and ! the framing of an active and progressive policy which will appeal to the moderate and reasonable section of the community." This morning it returns to the suject in another footnote. "The danger ahead," it says, "is the splitting of the existing coalition >and a triangular fight which will play info the hands of the extremists.-' This, of course, is a reaffirmation of the resolution adopted at the Reform caucus during the recent session or Parliament. THE PARTY TRUCE This is not the place to discuss the merits or the demerits of the party truce nor to consider the advantages or disadvantages of its remunciation, but the time is not inopportune to recall its more important provisions. The original agreement was drafted by Sir Joseph Ward after ho had been induced by the Governor-General to accept a seat in the Cabinet. It stipulated that there should be equal representation of the parties in the Executive. that hostilities should be suspended, that in the event of a seat in the House becoming vacant it .should be filled by the party to which it previously belonged, that the operation of the Legislative Council Act should be postponed and that the agreement should remain in force until the end of the war or till renounced by one or both of the party leaders.

ITS CURRENCY. By special resolutions of the party caucuses the currency of the agreement had been' extended till the return of Mr Massey and Sir Joseph "Ward from London, If these resolutions were interpreted literally they would mean that directly the party leaders set foot in Wellington they will resume their old pre-war relations. This would involve the resigna- " tion of Sir Joesph Ward and his Liberal colleagues in the Cabinet and the appointment of Ministers from the ranks of the Reformers to take their places. Though this course is seriously advocated by certain members of the House on both sides of politics, the return to the old order y is scarcely likely to be so abrupt. Sir \ Jospeh Ward could hardly hand over the Treasury to his successor .at ten minutes notice nor the Hon. A. M. Myers the vast and complicated business of the Munitions and Supplies Department.

THE FUTURE. But that a majority of the two old parties, either in the House or in the country, will "be found favourably disposed towards a permanent coalition is highly problematical. To begin with, it is known that several of the present Ministers are dissatisfied with the present arrangement. Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have observed the letter and the spirit of the truce with exemplary fidelitj', but naturally the views and aspirations of the leaders have not always been in agreement and the result has been embarrassment and disappointment to both of them. Among the rank and file the position has been aggravated by the disabilities, amounting almost to impetency, imposed upon private members by the absolute supremacy of the National Government. The an* peal for political peace is admirablji? enough, but to be acceptable to the electors it must be accompanied by some assurance of political progress.