THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9669, 7 December 1909, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

STRAINED PARTY RELATIONS.

TROUBLE AHEAD,

The political situation is at the present moment more interesting, if not actually serious, than probably since the great Liberal Party emerged from the general election of 1890, says the "Post." There are various signs of that fact, and perhaps one ox the most significant is the refusal on the part of some of the members principally concerned to say anything about the matter. Their mannar is more eloquent than words in such a case, and, while remaining silent, they do not deny that trouble is looming. It is not at present considered, it would- appear, that anything in the nature of a crisis is imminent, but the storm is eviJently brewing, and, if not deflected, i, ay result in political confusion. Twica of late the Government has been defeated with the aid of members from its own ranks—one on the question of making the Public Trustee the sole Commissioner of Sinking Funds, and again on Friday night, in refusing to vote a salary of £4OO a year to Hon. W. P. Reeves as Financial Adviser

in London to w the New. Zealand Government. On Saturday morning a defeat was only prevented on the Hospitals and Charitable Institution Bill rtgarding contracts with friendly societies by keeping up the debate until the luncheon adjournment was reached. Every indication points to the fact that relations between the Radical section of the partyjandthe Government are strained, and the: House may be likened to ajjpiece of: tinder, which will flare up at once on the application of a match. The match is ready for application, and it is labelled "Land Bill." It must be remembered also that this is the first time for over twentyyear that the estimates have been framed and brought forward for discussion on a retrenchment basis, and' a feeling is abroad that, while hundreds of small salaried men, who go

I out on miniature pensions or none ati aIJ, have been dismissed, quite a dis-c proportionate number of holders off good appointments: have been retained. Further, there is an independence of thought among members on the Liberal side {which has not been in Mr Ballance argumed the Premiership, and is in marked contrast to the tone which has characterised the House during the interval. It should also be borne in mind that this is the first House in which Sir Joseph Ward has had a partyreturned to support him as head of the Government, and that before the members of the party had been welded into a united phalanx the loyalty of one considerable section was strained by the introduction of the Land Bill. They will not, they declare, permit of the Bill being "bullocked through" either before Christmas or after Christmas, so long as they have power to prevent it, and if it is "bullocked through" their attachment to the Party is at an end. They are arrangipg for a recess campaign against the Bill, and on 6 of the chief speakers in that campaign will be the Government Whip, Mr G. Laurenson.

Arrangements are at present being made for a meeting of the party to be held early this week to consider the position. The storm will either burst then or an amicable arrangement be arrived at. Meanwhile the tension is ge'ting more acute.

As to the Bill itself, the position is this. There is a motion'before the House to lay the report of the Land's Committee upon it oh the table. That comes on for consideration every aft: moon, and on each occasion members are entitled to apeak for half an hour. Until the motion has been carried the BMI cannot be brought up for its second reading, which is only the very beginning of its Parliamentary existence. It is currently reported in the lobbies that if the debate on the motion to accept the report of t ! e Committee on the Pill is carried, the Bill h "dead"—dropped. If the debate is continued by its opponents it is also "dead," for the leaseholders are convinced that they are sufficiently strong in numbers to prevent its progress if it should get into committee, when it musfalso b borne in mind, tbe Opposition will have several amendments designed! to make it more acceptable from their point of view. Rumours of a proposed arrangement between the Opposition and the leaseholders are discredited. At any rate, a large S3ction of the leaseholders will noJ

even commence the negotiations. The latest development is that i. caucus of the Party haa bean arranged for 10.30 this morning, wha: the whole question will be thresh out, and, if possible, some definit understanding arrived at with th object of facilitating the business of the session.