The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1925. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 16 May 1925, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1925. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

x'oiilticui iutv te bcitn Lj Us j 1 uUilUg' lUJ.C pU aL' 10lV Uilj O SL'iOOf iji® I'UU ralO xU.l' JXUisUj b ■jv-Ote-iXltkA. IXI Uii UguiuteOu tu. i jAJIIuUXU. activivy It le> UUXUitUM I „aac me oiiuice ol <i leadea‘ lur mo 1 luirtimi i' ai'ty is eo milieu u_> fiiuve J iuuio or losa uuitHuliuiiiy mi uiiiut m.UU»UIii'& XUOSSi'S VV . JJUVv'liie ( ounviu't, Air J. (iordon Guaieu j UJXU. A. XV. MCUtH/tl. XU IX I cuLiractorisuo iusuxon, our aucJs.- I xuua xnouus were eariy iu toio iituti wit-u uieir cnoice. llxe lute ivxr Massey' s successor xuust, ox course, au iiuoitxauu cuusuiueucy 1 "liio A e\v Zenlaua liemlu," before txie ruoi'ial remains ol Mr Massey liau been laid to rest, ru titer mueiicaloiy | xuade a Lug- bid to secure tire goou J xavours ox tue Lteionu Jr arty lor ] Mr Uoatcs. f ile claims ox Mr xiov/me btewart tv ere disposed ox in ilin r teen lines, but tiiei v. oudcrxui administrative capacity ol tlie xavouied Auelxlauuer tv ere I eiaboruto and stressed m a. most l pointed fasuion. “Tie may laclx part ox tne equipment necessary xor distinguisned success us a parii amen rary leader," "Tlio Herald" eonfessed, "but. in tiio j last few years lie Uas established j a national reputation as an administrator witli vision, re-, sourcefulness and stremg-tii of • character" and so on xnxougli lifty-six lines of strained eulogy of the Aucklander, who "wiiij not seek the office of Prime Minister. "The Herald'' sums up, "but it is to be expected that tne party will select Mm for it and persuade him to accept it." iNo mention is made of the lack of knowledge of finance and 1 economics which greatly depredates Mr Coates' chances of being’ selected as Mr Massey’s successor, while the "Lew Zealand Herald" rather naively omits to mention that these qualifications are possessed by Mr Downie Stewart who, according- to the Auckland journal, "nas proved his capacity for greater responsibilities by the possession of .exceptional intellectual powers and of a, wide knowledge of men and affairs. But, 5 ’ tne northerners assert, "apart altogether from other considerations the state of his health is a great bar to Mr Stewart’s succeeding to the Pxime Ministershi2>. ’ ’ “The Auckland Star’’ similarly speaks of Mr Ooates as the probable new Prime Minister. If the Auckland journals had said exactly what they mean, they would have confessed their determination to leave no stone unturned, in their efforts to retain the leadership of the Beform Party in the hands of an Aucklander. The mere fact that. Mr Downie Stewart represents a southern constituency renders him unacceptable, in the estimation of Aucklanders, as the successor to the late Mr Massey. Doubtless, however, the much agitated Auckland supporters of Mr Coates are coming to realise the significance of Sir Francis Bell undertaking, for the present, the duties of Prime Minister. It is quite clear that Mr Downie Stewart is very much in the running for the Prime Ministership. Moreover, the relative status of Mr Downie Stewart and Mr Coates in the House of Representatives may be gathered from their respective places in the big- debates. Mr Downie Stewart may not be able to jump upon the lootplate of a railway locomotive and career through the country in company with the engine-driver, or delve into the earth in the tunnels at Lake Coleridge, but in a battle of intellects m the discussion of great national policy measures involving finance and economics, Mr Downie Stewart is without a peer in the present House of Representatives. The Aucklanders, however, rather shrewdly refrain from all mention of Mr McLeod. The youngest Minister of the Reform Cabinet, is a big man with a big heart, who mightily appeals to the farming interests so largely representoT in the House of Representatives. Hence it is quite on the cards that even though Mr Downie Stewart may decline the proffered distinction of succeeding . liis wtdl-beloved chief, the new Minister of Lands, despite the silence of the Auckland quidnuncs, may seriously contest the right to succession with Auckland’s choice. During the next few weeks the political situation will be in a state of flux. Hot unnaturally the thoughtful elector is asking himself if the sham fighting is to continue?■ If so, the Socialists will conquer the divided forces of moderate political thought. During the next four weeks the anti-Socialist forces have an excellent opportunity to review the situation in i the light of the changed circumstances. In the immediate future j in view of the increasingly heavy i burden of responsibility affecting State and Empire thrust upon our I parliamentary representatives, I there must be less regard for purely party interests and more earnest statesmanlike efforts to conserve and advance the public j weal. I