THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 8

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

■» HOW HISTORY IS REPEATED. THE LAST PARTY CHANGE. ''. EVENTS OF TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO. INTERESTING COINCIDENCE. "History repeats itself!" How strikingly true this is'in politics as in other matters is demonstrated by a comparison of the present political situation with the crisis that ensued after the general elections of 1880. Then, as at the elections of Ml, the Government of the day trorl) Yustaine'd" a*reverse! As also is the case on the present occasion, diverse opinions were expressed on the opposite sides as to whether the Government had, or had not, been left without a majority. There was v 21 years ago, after the 'elections, the same perplexing uncertainty as to what would happen as there is at present. On that occasion, however, the uncertainty, so far as the meeting of-Parliament was' concerned, was set at rest before the Christmas holidays by the date of meeting being announced.! Opponents of the Government claimed I that the Ministry should resign, but the I Government, on the other hand (although inclined at the outset to admit that it was defeated), took up the stand shortly after the election that it was by no means certain that it could no longer command a majority in the House. There was quite a number of members labelled "doubtful," and it was around these that much of the interest in the situation was centred. / THE "CONSTITUTIONAL WAY." It was contended by those opposed to the Government that the Ministry should resign, if for no other reason than that prior to the elections Sir Harry Atkinson had given a pledge that the Government would resign if the elections went against him. Sir Harry, however, denied that he had given any such pledge. All that he had said, he stated, was that if the elections went against the Government he would "act in a constitutional way." He contended that it was by, no means certain, admitting that the Government was defeated, that here was a majority of supporters of Mr. Ballance (the Leader of the Opposition). He said that with the exception of Mr. Ballance himself there was no .ex-Ministex nor known party chiefs returned on "the other side." Had, he said, the position been that a majority had been returned for avowed leadeds'who had been Ministers, "no doubt it would have been the thing for the Government to resign at once and let the Governor send for* Mr., Ballance." Sir Harry added that the "constitutional course" to which he had referred was to call Parliament together as early as possible, and he stated that this would be done. ' . RUMORS OF RECONSTRUCTION. The House then consisted of 70 European and four Maori members.. Four of the newly-elected members, as on the present occasion, were Laborites, this being the first advept of Labor in Parliamentary life. The Government, a fortnight after the elections, claimed a following of 35, giving the Opposition credit for 32, thus leaving seven Independent, or, to use the less high-sounding title then adopted—"Doubtful" members. There was also at that time a number «of Ministerials who were dissatisfied with the personnel of the Cabinet, and the air was ripe with suggestions and rumors of "reconstruction."- A coalition of the leaders of the two parties was also suggested. Mr. Ballance, in reply to a newspaper interviewer as to the question of whether the Government should resign, said: "Yes, they should do their simple duty by resigning. They have no right to offer opinions. They are dead to the Constitution." The prospect of an early dissolution was also discussed, • it being believed by many that this would be the outcome of the position, no matter what Government might be formed. THE'SUMMONING OF PARLIAMENT. On December 15 (10 days after the elci ions) Sir Harry Atkinson had a confer ice with the Governor (the late Lord Or.vow) and this was followed a few day s later an announcement that Parliament would, meet on January 23. Matters then quietened down during the Christmas and New Year holidays, but as soon as the new year was ushered in the interest broke out afresh. The New Zealand Herald of January 3 published the following from its Wellington correspondent:—"The political situation is undergoing a process of what is called 'hardening up,' Which means that the Government are acquiring confidence that they will be able to weather the political storm that is inevitable." It was said that the Government *had succeeded in obtaining the support of some of the Doubtful members, and, some members of the Cabinet were declaring their belief that they would have a majority by the time that the House met. Like Sir Joseph Ward at the present time they thought that political majorities could be made "to grow." The majority, however, did not come to pass on that occasion. We shall soon see how far in this-respect history will follow in the old footprints of 21 years ago. SIR HARRY DECIDES UPON HIS COURSE. The ill-health of Sir Harry Atkinson had been recognised as one of the most serious obstacles to the success of any attempts to "patch up" the Ministry, and in the early part of January gossip was busy as to his probable retirement into a less arduous sphere of action than that of a party leader. It was suggested that | he would go Home as Agent-General, and a press cablegram from London stated that a report to that effect was current there. A few days -later another report—which subsequently proved to be wellfounded—was circulated, viz., that the J Premier, would resign first before the meeting of Parliament and step into the chair of the Legislative Council, which in those days was not an elective office. The resignation of Sir William Fitzherbert (Speaker of the Council) gave support to tho report. The uncertainty ended on January 21,' when a caucus of tlie Government party .: was held in Wellington. At the caucus (a report of which was supplied to the press) Sir Harry Atkinson announced j that his medical advisers'had informed j him that he would be unable to continue to lead the Government, and that the I

Government had therefore decided to resign. He added that the other jMinisters and his friends considered "that he should obtain an appointment in the Upper House, and be made Speaker of that body. He did not at first like the idea, as personally he was opposed to anything that looked like self-appointment." CLOSING ACT OF THE DRAMA. Sir Harry at once resigned his seat in * the House, and on January 23 (Ihe day, l.of the meeting of Parliament) he resigned the Premiership, this act, of course, carrying with it the resignation of tha Government. - When njet an hour or two later Sir Harry (who, had been sworn inNas a member of the Legislative Council before the Governor) was installed as Speaker of that body. , ■■ "Wlieii the House met the retiring Gonominee of the Bajlanee party (Major. Steward). The Hob., E. Mitchelson, the late deputy-Premier, announced the resignation of the Government, and Mr. Ballance stated that at the request of the Governor he had agreed to undertake the formation of a Ministry. The House adjourned for four days,, and'lthtbe interval Mr. Ballance's Cabinet wag formed. Parliament was prorogued a day or two later, and it met again in the usual way in June. Despite somep redactions ito the'contrary, the new Government secured a working majority.. tThuft elided a period of great 'political excitement, i which, until the present time, has since | had no counterpart in New Zealand.Auckland Herald. -■•;> ,