THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1919, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

REFORM CAUCUS, CONTINUED CONFIDENCE IN MR. MASSEY. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Those who had expected, and perhaps hoped for, a stormy meeting of the Reform Party in caucus to-day must b<s disappointed. There was a lot of very frank discussion, but the result of the meeting is that the party still remains well united. The plain talk, when it was directed against members of the Government, was never directed against the L'rime Minister, and the party showed its continued confidence in Mr. Massey. New Ministers are to be appointed at once. The number will not bo less than two, and probably not more than four. There are to be retirements from the present Ministry, but Mr. Massey will almost certainly object strongly to any demand that he should let his experienced colleagues go and face the House with new men. He may not carry his point but he will certainly fight hard for it,' and the chances are that none of the present Ministers will resign just yet. At some time, not yet determined, they will all resign and allow Mr. Massey to reconstruct, but the present is not an opportune time. When the caucus resumes Mr. Massey will be prepared to make suggestions and to receive suggestions for the filling of the vacant positions in the Ministry. Among the probables are Dr. E. Newman, Messrs Hine, Coates, and Scott, and to those may be added as possibles Messrs Young and Anderson. These last would have been more eligible for promotion but for their recent adventure with the so-called Progressive Party.

The Reform Party sat in caucus the whole afternoon. Mr. Massey states that there was a full attendance. A very lengthy but friendly discussion upon matters of interest to the party took place, resulting in the meeting concluding with a resolution of confidence in the leader. The caucus then adjourned until an indefinite date. THE LIBERAL ATTITUDE. APPROVAL OF LEADER'S ACTION. Wellington, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward states that there were 20 members of tho Liberal Party present at their caucus this afternoon and two accounted for. Hons. G. W. Russell and J. A, Hanan were amongst the absentees. The following motions were carried: ''That the retirement t>f Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues from the National Cabinet is in full accord with the agreement entered into when the National Cabient was formed, and is unanimously approved by this meeting; that this meeting is in Jiearty accord with the general poljcy embraced in the manifesto issued by' Sir Joseph l Ward." To this there was one dissentient on, some points. "That this' meeting expresses its .approval of tho aon&ict of the public business by the Hon. W. D. 8. Mac Donald and his" Liberal colleagues during Sir Joseph Ward's absence in Europe, and places on record its hearty approval of their services to *the country," The meeting also passed a resolution expressing its high appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) to the country, and expressed the hope, that ho would reconsider his decision not to contest the next election. Messrs Forbes and Dickie were reappointed whips to the Party. A vote of continued confidence in Sir Joseph Ward as the leader of the Party was also passed unanimously. Sir Joseph Ward said that every member of the Party recognised that the country was passing through difficult times from the point of view of future constitutional requirements, and expressed his intention to do all in his power to assist the country in reaching those requirements. He stated that there was no discussion as to the procedure of the Party in the House, that being left to the discretion of the leader to meet each situation as it arose. He recognised it was his duty to help as far as he could all matters appertaining to the Empire and internal requirements of the country, but it was impossible to say how' this could be done until these requirements were known. They were now bock into the old constitutional position of recognised Government and recognised Opposition. No more than any other leader was he making any promises as to the course to be taken, except to say he considered it his duty to do his best in the interests of the country, and that he proposed to do.

THE LABOR PARTY. Wellington, Last Night. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labor Party was held this afternoon, all the members being present. It was unanimously agreed that the'country should be given the earliest opportunity of choosing the Parliament. Mr. Holland was appointed chairman of the parly and Mr, Walker whip.

BEFORE THE BREAK-UP.

'PERSONNEL OF THE MINISTRY. SEVEN REFORM: AND SIX LIBERAL, Following was the personnel of the Nav'onal Government at the time of the resignation of the Liberal members:— RKFORM REPRESENTATIVES. Right Hon. W. F. Massey, P. 0., Prime Minister and Minister for Labor. Sir James Allen, K.C.B-, Minister for Defence. Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways and Native Minister Sir William Fraser, Kt. Bach., Minister for Public Works. Sir Francis Bell, K.Q.M.0., K.C., Attor-ney-General, Minister for Immigration. Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands. Hon Dr. Pomare, member of the Executive Council, representing the native race. LIBERAL REPRESENTATIVES. Right Hon. Sir J. 0. Ward, Bart., P. 0., K.0.M.Q., Minister for Finance and Postmaster-General. Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs and Public Health. Hon A. ,M. Myers, Minister for Customs and Minister in Charge of Munitions Mi tiU£flUg.

Hon W. D. S. Mac Donald, Mniitw fttlfl Agriculture and for Miiflg. Hod. J. A. Hanan, Minister for Mfl'|M Hon T. M. Wilford, Minister for JnitioalM and for Marine! . |H THE WAIRARAPA BEAT. ■ 9 Wellington, Lart Night, ilB Mr. Maurice R. Smith,' chairman of tin iffl Martinborough Town Board, hat m..'M nounced Ilia intention of contesting thei^ffl Wairarapa iu Labor and Democratic >■«'"n» THE SURPRISE PACKET* . DISRUPTION CAUSED BY SKSBT 9 TACHCa JB The Wellington correspondent of tto«9 Manawatu Times Btates: The cVwImkIB merit in the National Government Was 19 well kept, one morning paper only pub- IB lishing a hint of the possibility of ttoTtjggi party truce ending before the section,'t Hi hint which the evening paper, quit* i£>* : l9 nores, though at 5 p.m., following a S Cabinet luncheon to Admiral JeUioovGßr '*JS Joseph Ward proceeded to Government '»M Houso to hand in his resignation to #» ,■ M Governor-General. While thoee to 'sl touch with the Ministers realised tact : 'M two sectionsi in the Cabinet won ''"] definitely lining up, it was generally «• .-<] pected that the session would open with & the National Government on the Treat- .'*! ury benches. It is understood that tb* £■ Financial Statement is well forward, ».j large amount of references to depart-'. I mental matters being ready for ttw ■-.! printer, while a number of Government & bills were printed, bearing the names of 3 the Ministers who will not be In the f Government when the House meets. ,"''* The question naturally suggests itself J ' ■* What was the reason precipitating the t dissolution of partnership only a week "' before the session t Two important ifactors are prominent-first, the Prim* !■* Minister's acceptances of a cruiser from Jl tlio Home authorities. Thl», I under- 'M stand, was done without the concurrence WK of Sir Joseph Ward, who knew only -'m after the cruiser had been definitely a*-' "J!3 oepted, though Mr. Massey maintains '•at this involves no departure from the "M arrangement under which a tiny war- ,r 'l ship, the Philomel, was maintained in New Zealand waters, out of the Domln- * ion'a £IOO,OOO annual naval subeldy. There i« an opposite view that a modern cruiser, with expensive upkeep, it ' the direct adoption of the principle of a '" local navy. The nationalisation of coal minet ti the second big differing principle. Sir Joseph Ward favours this plan, bnt it la significant that Cabinet's reply to the -,, Alliance Labor request on this line con- •'>'- tains no reference to such an Important '! suggcßtion. These differences suggest '.*, that the Reform portion of the National \

' Nivernment was stretching tin terms of the truce beyond breaking point, forcing the Liberals to refuge the ronponsibiUty to meet the House with such a joint programme for future developments.