WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1919, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE POLITICAL CRISIS. PARTIES IN CAUCUS. (Special Correspondent) Wellington, August 27,

The party caucuses are being held this 1 afternoon. The Liberal caucus was called for this morning, but it was found a number of northern members could not reach Wellington til! a later hour and the meeting was postponed. The official reports of the two gatherings are Bure to be of the usual tone and color. "All the members of the party were present or accounted for and the proceedings were of a very harmonious character." It is always so. But it was known in advance that a certain measure of independence would be displayed at. both meetings and that the respective leaders would require to exercise some tact to lead their followers into the proper channel of cordial .unanimity. Mr Massey was confronted by. a number of disgruntled Reformers who had discovered occasion for offence in the lassitude and apathy of one or other of his colleagues and Sir Joseph Ward by a number of impatient Liberals who had grown restless -during a long period of inaction.

RESUMPTION OP PARTY WARFARE.

Mr Massey's friends still persist in [believing that Sir Joseph Ward's withdrawal from the National Cabinet was prompted by an unholy desire to harass his old political opponents as for in advance of the general election as possible. The Dominion which yesterday seemed disposed to modify its first onslaught upon the Liberal leader for breaking up the happy home of coalition returns to the attack this morning with renewed vigor. It implies that if Sir Joseph Ward does not make an attempt to oust his former colleagues from office it will be because the fear of public indignation will restrain him from adding this iniquity to the "serious disservice" he has rendered to the country "by seceding from office on the eve of the session." It hopes that on reflection he will face his responsibilities in a more enlightened spirit than he displayed in with- j drawing from the National Cabinet.

A MORE SPORTING VIEW. In fairness to the Reformers as a whole, it must be said this is not the spirit in which the great majority of Mr Massey's supporters are' viewing the secession of Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues. Mr Massey naturally is disappointed at losing the assistance of Sir Joseph at the Treasury and having to take up work himself to which he is unaccustomed. But he does not seriously maintain that the Liberal leader has committed any breach of faith in observing the terms of the party truce which definitely provided for the termination of the agreement upon the con. elusion of the war. The great majority of the rank and file of the party, though joining with Mr Massey in regretting Sir Joseph's retirement at the present juncture, freely admit it would have been quite impo'ssible to proceed (vith any far-reaching domestic legislation while the National Cabinet endured. For this reason they welcome what has happened.

SPECULATIONS CONCERNING THE BREAK. AH sorts of speculations have been put forth as to the reasons, that led up to the break between the parties. Incompatibility of temperament, differences regarding naval policies, bickerings over the cost of living and a score of other causes for the separation have been alleged. But as a matter of plain fact, as any close observer might have gathered for himself, Sir Joseph has never found the coalition a congenial arrangement. He went into it very reluctantly, believing the country's ends could have been as well served* by the adoption of the proposals he made at the time, and he has remained, in it merely in discharge of the obligation forced upon him. That he has been scrupulously loyal to the compact his political opponents readily admit and that he has provided any excuse at this stage for the revival of the old party bitterness few of them will maintain.