COALITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1915, Page 4

COALITION.

NATIONAL CABINET FORMED. MR. MIASSIEY'S STATEMENT, , EQUAL REPRESENTATION. ! HOUSE ADJOURNS FOR FORTNIGHT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Mr. M'asscy announced in the House that a Coalition Cabinet has been formed, with himself as Prime Minister f Sir Joseph Ward as Minister for Finance, and the Hon. James Allen as Minister for Defence. The other portfolios arc not yet stated. Wellington, Last Night. This afternoon, in a full House, and in the presence of crowded galleries Mr. Massey rose and said lie must atik the indulgence of the House to make a statement in regard to a subject, not only of interest to Parliament, but also

of interest to the public. He need hardly remind ipcople that for some time past negotiations had been in progress between the two main parties, and the leaders of thoee parties. The object of the conference was to form a National Cabinet for carrying on the affairs of the country while the war is in progress. Negotiations went 011 for some timb, 'but a week ago it looked as though they would fall through. Under ordinary circumstances, 110 would have advised his party to carry on, even with a slender majority, and he believed they would have got through successfully and satisfactorily. Circumstances, however, were not ordinary, as the Empire was passing through the most serious crisis in its history. Members would agree with him that it was impossible for the Government, with a slender majority, to do all the work and business required to be done in order to enable the dominion to do its duty t>o the Empire. That was practically the only reason for the formation of a National Cabinet. He hoped that what was 'being done would he, advantageous to both the Empire and the country. It was not inappropriate, he thought, that an agreement should have been arrived at on the anniversary of the declaration of war. It was only right that he should mention his appreciation of the generosity of his colleagues and party. Two of his colleagues had come forward and offered tiicir resignations in order to make way for the formation of a National Cabinet. All his supporters, although some of them did not agree with what was being done, were perfectly satisfied to leave everything in his hands. With the concurrence of the Leader of the Opposition, they had agreeil upon a conference of the principal men from loth sides of the House, quite constitutionally, at the request of his Excellency the Governor, to consider the proposal. Speaking generally, he could say that flic result of that conference was known to members. Thc.v had arrived at a basis agreed upon by both sides, upon which negotiations would continue for the formation of a National Cabinet. The basis which they agreed upon had been referred to in caucuses of the respective parties, anil, so far as he could learn, the result of the party caucuses had been the same in each case, that was to say: members agreed to stand to their respective leaders in the decisions they had come to. Tie would not go into the proposals now in detail, but the most important points were as follow": He (Mr, Massey) was to continue as Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition would control the port- , folio of Finance, the lion. J. Allen would , continue jn control of Dofem-e, and r» , presentation from both sides of the , House would be equal. He was not , able to say what members the new ■ Cabinet would consist of, but European

lrr-re.-.c:itatlon would be equal, ami the NhUvc r.'.c.vJ-rr could continue to occupy the same fic.^iii,., t a.. !.e did nofr. He j

thought the working <if the proposal would lie successful, Tin- «ropn»al <,.f equal representation would, perhaps, startle some of the public, and. perhaps, also some of the members, but he would say that the Government in its tenure of office had never ouee had to take a division. He thought a National Government could continue on similar lines. There were a number of details to be arranged, nnd lie proposed to ask Parliament to adjourn for a fortnight to work out these details. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION".

Sir Joseph Ward stated that they were living in abnormal times, which required abnormal changes to meet the circumstances, lie wanted to say tliat but for this crisis there could be little doubt that the change for this country was about to witness in the formation of a, Xational Cabinet could not have eventuated. He wanted to make it clear, and lie spoke for his side of the [louse, that lie did not regard the change as "coalition"; he looked upon it as a National Cabinet, brought into existence for the purpose of enabling the country to show united action to other Parliaments of the world, and to deal with matters directly affecting the war, without party warfare. The whole position was due to the emergency facing the Empire during the war. lie paid a tribute to the disinterested manner in which Ilia Excellency the Governor had conducted the conference, and added:

"Had u National Cabinet not 'been formed, the country would have been faced Willi dissolution, which ut the proaoit juncture would have been unthinkable." He, for one, would not have accepted the responsibility for such a .state of afl'a'rs, but lie recognised it was in the best interests of the country to have no delay in vital matters. In his judgment, no Government with u slender majority Koukl, with reasonable certainty and satisfaction, meet the national needs in such a crisis as this. A strong Government was needed, one that would have the help of Parliament as a whole, not only in mutters of legislation, but also in administration. Referiing to the basis of equality, Sir Joseph Ward remarked that the co operative plan was one of mutual concessions, instead of divisions, to enable the work lo be carried on. lie recognised that the Prime Minister should retain his position as Leade>' of the Reform Party; he himself would retain the position of header ol the Oppo.-ition, and he was perfectly corlain that the others with him would work loyally and zealously with the other parly for the benefit of New Zealand and the Empire.

. A LABOR MBMBRR. ifr. Payii". speaking with the indulgence of the House, said that, though he was not Sipeafclnff for any party, lie (as a T.afcor member) would express the opinion that it was to the credit of the Ilou»e that it had come to this arrangement. At a lime of crisis, lie

thought Labor throughout the dotti&ioli ivaulJ b« doing w«H if it (jure ilmlkr support. LABOR PARTY'S VIEWS. Wellington, Last Night. Following is a copy of a letter handed to Sir Josq>h Ward this afternoon from the Parliamentary Labor Party: At a meeting of the Parliamentary Labor Party this afternoon, those present being Messrs. Hindmarsh (chairman), Veiteh, MoCombs, Webb and Walker, the following decisions were arrived at unanimously:— That the extent to which the Labor Party is prepared to support or oppose the proposed National Cabinet ■will depend upon the measures brought forward by such Government and its adininistra. tiomj tlmt it is not the Labor Party'* wish, nor the wish of any one of it# number, to be offered a .portfolio in the proposed National Government.—Signed, A. H. Hindmarsh, chairman.