THE POLITICAL CRISIS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10521, 9 January 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS

STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. PARLIAMENT TO BE CONVENED NEXT MONTH. " (By-Telegraph—Press Association. J :■ WELLINGTON, Last Night.'The Plriime Minister has forwarded . the following statement to the Press Association:— Tb the electors oi New Zealand:— The present political situation is a very difficult one. It is not yet tfcliree weeks since the return of the writs, and this period includes the Christmas' and New Y'ear. holidays. 1' Slave, during the short time at my disposal, fully inquired into the situation in all its, bearings, and 1 have had 1 afsuirances that on n want of confidence motion I should have a small majority. 1 have, therefore, been urged to defer calljaig Parliament together until the ordinary time, or until after the close of the fhiano'al year. liave, however, fully ornifidered the position, and have satisfied myself that- it :« .the wiser discharge of my duty that I should take tho course I now indicate. - The two main parties are practically even, and a small independent section of members has thus the balance of power. I have all through been of opinion tlmt Parliament alone should deal with s.uclh a situation; and after the* fullest and roost careful consideration .that l have given to the matter, I have, finally concluded that Parliament iihoiuJii meet as early as practicable.

For chat pus pose I shall, therefore, ask Has Excellency th'e Governor to summon Parliament for r j 'hair s clay, the lath of February.

There 'is jio necessity for me to elaborate on the questions involved, excepting to say that in my opinion it is essentia*], for the good and sound government of any country, tliat the party in power should lwive :a (ii,aj<wity sup-porting, it, and neither of the principal nia.rties can directly, as- the result cf lihe elections', claim that they have this 1 . J feel- that the course I have intimated is not only the c'onsffaitiitmiial «ne, but. is in the best interests of the. pc-r.'p r e as a whole. JOSEPH GEORGE WARD.

MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED. TH3A T IK>S PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE CONVENED EARLIER. WILL ANOrmER~ELECIION BE NECESSARY ? (By Teleuravh —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. Questioned this evening, Mr \N ■ F. Massey, Leader of the Reform Party, said he was pleased that I ar- I lament was art last to meet; but he was of opinion- that it should haA met at an earlier dute. Ihe last election was the most important in ■twenty years, and he thought Su Joseph Ward and his .colleagues wmikl have done the right thing luicl they advised the Governor to convene Farli'anient before the end of the oresent month. If an election became necessary, it would be on- account of the attempts' winch were belli<>• made to .interfere with the will of the peoplei a.s expressed at the polls.