WELLINGTON NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION; THE COALITION MOVEMENT, (Special Correspondent). Wellington, Jan. 10. The local newspapers still are loath to return to the discussion of party politics, but the Dominion lately has been giving a hand to the coalition movement by attaching editorial footnotes to letters on the subject published in its correspondence columns. On Wednesday one of these footnotes told the public at large that "what is wanted is not an ending of the party trlice, bht an ending of the old and largely artificial party division 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 subject in another footnote. "The danger ahead," it Bay#,' "is the splitting of the existing coalitrxn and a triangular fight which will plaj into the hands of the extremists." This, of course, is a reaffirmation of the resolution adopted at the Reform caucus during the recent session of Parliament. THE PARTY TRUCE. This is not the place to discuss the I merits or the demerits of the party truce nor to consider the advantages or

disadvantages of its renunciation; but the time is not inopportune to recall its more important provisions. The original agreement was draft d by Sir Joseph Ward after he 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 party 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 till the end of the war or till renounced by oue or both of the party leaders. j ITS CURRENCY. j

By special resolutions of the party caucuses the currency of the agreement has 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 resignation of Sir Joseph 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 j

House on both sides of polities, the return of 'the old order is scarcely likely to be so abrupt. Sir Joseph Ward could hardly hand over the Treasury ta his succcessor at lan minutes' notice nor the Hon. A. M. Myers the vast and complicated business of the Munitions and j Supplies Department. ' THE FUTURE. But that a majority of the two-old parties, either in the House or in thu. country, will be found favorably 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 fidelity, 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 impoteney, imposed upon private members I>7 the absolute supremacy of tlw National Government. The appeal for political peace is admirable enough, but to | be acceptable to the electors it must ho. I accompanied by some assurance-of pt>limskssmdk,'' "* ,