POLITICAL SENSATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10413, 6 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL SENSATION.

RESIGNATION OF HON G. FOWLOS. DISSATISFIED WITH THE PARTY. A NEW EVANGIEL WANTED. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last NightSir Joseph Ward informed the House of Representatives this aiternoon that the Hon. G. Fowldls had resigned Ms position in the Ministry, and the resignation had been accepted by His Exicellenioy the Governor. Sir Joseph said he regretted the severance from his esteemed friend. Mr Fowids 'had been in the Ministry for five years, and on no occasion had a cross word taken place between any of them. He aclcnowledged the abiliity and great public spirit liuanifes>ted by Mr FowMis. "As friendsi we- ' met, as friend® we"' part, and friieaidis we wail always be," 'wncMded the Premier. Mil FOWLDS EXPLAINS. The Hon. G. Fowilds said he would like to say a few words, to supplement the statement of Siir Joseph Ward. He had not taken the step of uretireimeinlt from the Cabinet on account of any personal difference between the Prime Minister or his* colIfeagues and himiself, because his repersonal and official, with rtlhem, had been of a most harmonious dblaraoter, notwithstanding the fact ttihiat Ms and their floMtioal ideas had, '•been moat wMaliy divergent on many questions. He could honestly say that it was with deep regret that he was impelled to take the step hie now took. A MOMENTOUS VOTE. To some extent, hie action! had been .precipitated by the diwision that took place ,some weeks ago on the Towm Planning Bill. line political significance "of the vote was momemi tous. That a substantial number of miemlbeins of the Government party istould, by their votes, siay that wlhdle .they were-not" prepared jbo trustfc'thi© Goveramjent as. a .wihole sitting .with •iftue Gkiveiroor.4nMG(KHKS to do certain; am,portaint administrative' acts, they! were prepared to entrust these acts•to a Board of Government, ofiicrilals', »with- perhaps bite- Minister sitting as a merarber, or as Chairman., was, to «hisi mind, symptomiatic of a very serious condition, of affairs. That condition, as it appeared to Mim, wias one of dissatisfaction and unrest in' the Party in its relations with its I representatives, wlho composed the Government. Proceeding, Mor Fowldis said: "I have had no;, indication that eioA dissatisfaction centres itself on me personally; but I have felt it impossible for me to remain' a member of a Government wthlich was unable to secjure that measure of party loyalty neoesisary to carry on thle Government of (the country with somie degree of dignity and self-respect. I have never been' .greatly enamoured of Party govjernimentt, but until,we evolved both the machinery and puMao spirit necessary to mate some other form of Government possible, it is essential that a Government should have siuch support as would enaibflie it to .carry ou|t. its famctions in a reasonably dignified manner. When at is unable to do that its usefulness has gone." MR FOWLDS' IDEALS. Mr Fowids went onito say that he entered pubic life for-the attainmemt, of ideals, and not with the object of attaining and maintaining place and power. His call to the Ministry was unsolicited, either by or for him', and. (he accepted it in a spirit of service, wailing and anxious at any time to step aside if Jie could do better for tori© country out of office than in. That conviction, had now come to Mm, and had dictated the step he> (had taken. He thought he might daim, in a modest way, that his ad■m£nM;ra.t3.on of the Departments envbr>usted to Mim had mot been. a. failure, and he ackiowTedged the JbyaJ and able assistance of his officer®. NO NEW CULT. He did not go out to form a new emit. He was conscious of the great, work Liberatlism had done for New Zealand, and believed when its id story was written an honoured place 'would be to the legislation of Sir Joseph Ward. NEW EVANGEL WANTED. "But," <»ntimuied,Mr Fowids, "the ■times in. which we live demand a new evangel, a (gospel which I have feOt I couM not preach as a member of tflie preeient Government, and sO I have decided, /or" rreedbm," in" order ftho-t I might express" iny whole soul to the-people of New Zealamd." 'Some of his. friends «n> the Opposition side .would .probably say that he ■was scuttling out of a stoking ship; but .tOie. only inducement that would Ihlavei kept him on the> Government

shap would'have been that of baitling with the adverse Opposition gates. THE OPPOSITION PARTY. Ini Mb judgment the present Oppo« Suttton' Party did not constitute a fao» tor in the future political life of the country. As far as that .party was concerned, he believed no Government in New Zealand ever went ia the country with, less fear. In' his opinion, the present leader of the Government had had his eye focussed /too mmcih on the Opposition and too little on> the forces that had been developing in, advance of the liberal Party. In- fairness to Sir JosepJh Ward and his> coHeagueis, he rebutted itibie charges of corruption! and Taimmamyism which, hod been levelled against the Government. DEMOCRATIC PARTY 1 WANTED. in concluding, Mr Fowids said:— "And now, I have only to express my thanks to the members of the Government Party, and of the House generally, for the" kindness and courtesy shown me while I have beea a Minister of the Crown, and to slay that whenever a. truly Democratic party arise® in- the country, a party pledged to definite principles, principles which it believe® in, and wjhidb it is prepared to fight for, it. sihlall have my Tvthole-Souled siupport, and if it shtauld become numerous enough, to enable it to form a Government, iand invites me to join it, my-services will be available. In the mjeantiime, I believe I can best, serve the country as a private member."