NATIONAL CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1915, Page 2

NATIONAL CABINET.

LABOR PARTY MANIFESTO. Wellington, August (i. The Labor Parly issued a manifesto to-night in reference to the absence of thy party from the House when Mr. Ifesscy and Sir Joseph Ward made their pronouncements with reference to a Coalition Government. After asserting that the Labor Party lias stood loyally by the Liberals, as long as there was any prospect of ousting the Massey Ministry, and outlining the proposals made for bringing about a coalition, the (manifesto Buy®: '"'ln the circumstances, the only alternative to coaliiion was another general election. There was no diflVtiHy in regard to defence, because both the Liberal and Labor Parties had loyally supported the Government in all its defence proposals.'-' The manifesto conclude.*: " The Labor Party will assUt the Coalition Governmcnt in every effort to help the Mother Country to maintain and uphold the highest ideals of liberty and justice." SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS.

Wellington, August (1. Sir J. G. Ward, when seen to-night by a New Zealand Times reporter, said that the selection of men who were to represent the Opposition in the National Cabinet bad been an exceedingly difficult matter, as was only (o be expected under the circumstances. The ranks of the Opposition included a number of men who were thoroughly well qualified, by ability and experience, for a Ministerial! position, and his regret in the matter' was that the limitation of .members imposed upon him, by the circumstances of the. situation, made it impossible to give uppcrlunitj' (if servjt-e to every man who was qualified to carry a portfolio. 'T want to make it clear, in the ease of Dr. .VfcNab, that he informed the members of the Party quite voluntarily of bis willingness to stand aside," said Sir Joseph. "It was upon my special request to-day, communicated to him by telegram, that he consented to place himself in my hands. 1 think everybody will agree that his inclusion in the National Ministry is a good thing for the country. The National Cabinet has been brought into existence for war purposes. We all recognise that at. this highly critical time in the history of (lie Empire, the Dominion wants the best administration that can be provided, and that party dissension ought to be set aside in the common interest. Everybody in the country, from the humblest to the highest, is feeling that there are difficult times ahead, and fliat our duty just now is to face the future confidently, but resolutely. We want to place the Dominion in as strong a position as possible, and to that end. it :s desirable that there should be the fullest co operation among the political parties, both inside Parliament and outside it, That must be our altitude until victory has been achieved for the British Empire and our Allies in the field." Tflß ENLARGED MINISTRY.

(From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Saturday

The increase in the number of members of the Cabinet from ten to twelve is the subject of much speculation. That the proposal for the increase came from the Government side is tolerably well known, and ;i probable storv is that it was made to suit the convenience of Sir Francis Hell and Mr. Herdman. There is a suggestion that the time is not quite oppoitune for the AttorneyGeneral to vacate Hie seat for Wellington North, and that Sir Francis Hell will be, just as well pleased to lead the Legislative Council for a little while loiiger. It is provided by the agreement between the party leaders that scats which become vacant during the continuance of the National Ministry shall be left in the undisputed possession of the party that formerly held them, lint this agreement is not binding upon the Tabor Party, and the removal of Mr. rierdman to the Upper House just now might lead to an untlmelv contest. Delay, while permitting n wide distriJm'.ion of the Mnisterial work, may bring a way out of the dflku'ty. THE LABOR PARTY.

llr. llindmarsh, the Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party, explained today that the absence of the member* of liis party from the House on Tuesday, when Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward were milking their statements in regard to the National Cabinet, was not intended to express disapproval of the proposed agreement at tile Opposition caucus, ami two of hl.s colleagues had admitted that the arrangement was the be-t way out of an extremely diflieult po-ition, and had undertaken to offer no factious opposition to the Cabinet. The paily. however, wished to preserve its identity, and to remain free to criticise in a. reasonable way any measures that; might come before the House. Tho absence of the members from the Cham!ei during the early part of Tuesday'* silting was due to their being engaged in tlio discussion of their a flairs ill another part of the building. They wislicd to preserve the most friendly relations with the allies, Iwt thev could not commit themselves to silence when they felt that tliev ought to speak.