THE POLITICAL CRISIS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10513, 30 December 1911, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS

WHAT HAPPENED AT OHRISTGHURCH. OUTLINE OF PROCEEDINGS. >■ The Ghjisbolrurdh correspondent of the "Evening Post" Statin that ;h» the "Liberal" caucus in ahristdhairclh w& marked oy much cordiality towards the Prime Minister, and tlhe members gave expressibi to feelings of warm loyalty to the party leader. Differences of opinion were revealed with regard to the proper course Liberal Party, and its Independent sympathisers to pursueunder the existing circumstances. A motion was passed, nearly unammoafj ly, expressing confidence in Sir Joseph Ward and readiness to follow him vi the path he mi#t select. The only dissent took tihe form of abstention from voting,' and due to a belief tha* the Government should not retain office. The- Prime Minister, there is good reason to' believe; told the memlers that lie .'felt, .assured of:.,a..maiOßty. on a Vant'ef cohfidehc§.in!Stioii; m now House. He expected to have abaohitie informa*ion on this poinib shortly and would then decide whether, lo early: session or postpone the trial of strength until June. It a sale majority were promised he would wait until June. It is understood that the question of the reconstruction of the Ministry was dwoussed, and opinions expressed in favour of-eertain changes in tto personnel of the Cabinet. A full statement from ttoe Prime Mdnistermay. »* expected shortly, probably next week. It may be said with assurance that mi important section of Southern members holds strongly to the view that ijhe Government should resign, and allow Mr Massey to form a Mmwjtry and meet the new Parhaanen*. Ifl'S Situ¥is'dse to teotU ~nsj d erv tlonsandnottoabelieftihatlJeOp. poatkm can command a Sept cm a catch division. The menK think that Mr Massey's GoycrnnSt would be defeated, and that d» SSnb would\theh fa.ee,the inevitable election with every prospect of su*-

HOPEFUL LIBERALB.

MB JOSEPH WILL GARRY ON. HIS RESOURCE, TACT AND • ABILITY. (By Telegraph—Press Relation.) OHRISTOHtfRra-I, tort. Nigbfc firw«iinn at a complementary boc- - Witty, M.P., toj- , SS^ofthemem^rsoft^Hoiiße " had wflyheen, stamped ™ g» a, Mr Witty Assessed, the Liberal Party . would S£dh it stands rery difficult task to.perform if.they S to relate the Liberal Party: m the House for the »™^ € * A Be* helkved, however, that with the St»wce tact and ability ffir Joseph Ward had' shown in, the past,, and now itoat the time hod come when their leader ahouM show what he was made of, Sir Joseph would shape ■Hie Party's coarse .and'the Linenai policy in suck a (Erection a* torefcalin thie position he-bad held m ParManHemt for so maiKy years past. Tte country had been, prosperous under Se rx4 of the Liberal' Party, and m, nobody present could thtok that that rSSSofy was likely to be altered I W the present party renwumßtag ml powetf for three years wore. Oflhw parts of the country seemed to titan* otherwise, bult that was tlieir misMr Wittv said the Liberal Party was not beaten, and the other side had! to prove they were m the majority. befeved ilhat in- the future thV LJbenal Party should not make eo miany taws, but Ehould see that . %xisit*ng law*.were carried out better. Iheie must be a stronger and. hetiter Adhnimiisttatntton, and he believed t3:.a* they ,w©uld have that in the future. . • -

THE WELLINGTON CAUCUS. STILL "NO STATEMENT TO MAKE." fi (By Telegraph—Press Association.) " ' WELLINGTON, Last-Night. Tfole North Island memiher.s met the Prime . Mmrater (Sir. Joseph Wiard) at has official t&sidlence to-night. The caucus was attended by tto. members of the Ministry at present vn> Wellington, «md tSie following members of larliament:- 3fewrrs W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty). J. \ifflfjr Biwvtn (Napier), A. K. Gilover (Auckland Oenitirtffl. R- W. Smith (WaunaniwO, V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands), A. M. Myers (Auckland East), and O. Pariata (Southenn Miwri). Tlie caucus lasted for two hours aaul a-jhaJt. At tlie conckusion the Prime Miinistier, in. leplv t!o an enquary by a reportea-, raid*. "It was a private conference ,and I have no statement to make."