THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1911. THE MAORI ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10504, 18 December 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1911. THE MAORI ELECTIONS.

Greater interest tlian us.ua! is manifested in the Maori' elections, which take place to-morrow, by reason of the ifact that it is understood that they will guide Sir Joseph Ward in his decision as between immediate -resignation, and postponing the.,evil day until Parliament assembles. Itis now clear that, even should he secure the three Native seats, Sir Joseph would, be unable to avoid) defeat oii the first no-confidence motion taken, in the. Hiouse. There is reason, to. think, fltowever, that at least one of the Maori members wilil throw inhis lot with the Reform Party. This, being so, and in view of the fact tiliat there are several vacancies im the Cabinet, the. only rea so liable (course open to Sir Joseph Ward is to 'tender his 1 resignation- to the Governor, and suggest that Mr Massey be sent for. The question of whether or not the Reform Party would be 'able to carry on, does not enter immediately into the discussion. The (probabilities are that the Labourites ,in the House would not care to face another election at the present juncture, and thliit they would give Mir iMiassey jui opportunity of bringing down, some of his policy measures. The first of these, no doubt, would affect the constitution of the Legisilative Cbunciii. The Reform Party is pledged, to democratise the Upper Chanber, and) the Lfabour Party is, generally speaking, in- sympathy with this proposal. A measure 1•> make the Legislative Council elec ive would probably be thrown oi ': by the "Lord?," and this would pv -

ci pit ate an appeial to the country upon a definite is&ue. The '•< political 8-kxiationi is fcuJ.ll of difficulties. While Stir Joseph' Ward and lids'party have been uiijndistaK'a.bly "turned down" by the country, IVnr Massey bus not received a sufficient backing to enable bini to proceed with his policy of reform without trepidation. The Legislative' Gounod could hardly be' expected to approve a measure for its own exitinctikm; nor is it reasonable to suppose' that it would pas© measures of reform which, have been opposed by'.tlie Ward Admdnistraeion. The a-ppoinitmieiit of a sufficient) naimibea 1 of Legislative Ooiincili Lors- to ensure the will of thle people Eyeing given effect to is.' out of the qiuesticn at-, .this stage. It seems obvious, thierefore, that the position iii New Zealand will be similar to | thiat u'Hch obtained in the United Kingdom after the election, of 191,0. lAmd there can be little doubt but that an appeal! to the country on the question of Legislative Council reform would materially strengthen tlife position/ of Mr Massey. Possibly, <hmvevery : before, a Bill having.;fbr ite object tlhe reiform. of - ttie Upper ' CBjau-lber , were; intr/xkicedj'. a-Bill to' •abolish- tS'e Second Ballots might be" put through. The events of the next few days will be watched with absorbing daiiteireist by the electors of the Dominion. .