POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 308, 25 June 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL

AN EX-MINISTER'S VIEWS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Nelson, Last Night. Speaking at a social in his honor at Collingwood, the Hon. R. McKenzie said that the non-party men were the cause of the present Parliament. He could not foreshadow the immediate results of the present situation, but thought, that it would mean an appeal to the country again in the near future. There were many who would sooner put the country to the expense of another election than accept the present position and let politics drift. No one in New Zealand could say what would happen within the next two or three weeks, but the present Government would probably go out. He was in favor of a coalition or an appeal to the country. Others must be made to recognise their responsibility. If he felt bound to force a dissolution he would do so, but h e had no idea yet what would happen. He could have been in the present Ministry if he had desired, but felt it his duty to himself and to the country to decline. There were too many independents there with whom he was out of sympathy. Every wobbler had of late years tacked himself on the tail of the Liberals, in order to get into and remain in Parliament. The political parties should be recast and revised. He did not propose to attach himself to any rank Tory or ultra Liberal. He believed that there were enough good men in the House to form a strong Government. The High Commissionership had not been offered to him. If it should be he would have to seriously consider his position in the present crisis.