MR FOWLDS’ RESIGNATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3316, 7 September 1911, Page 5

MR FOWLDS’ RESIGNATION.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

CONDITIONAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. “I am finished naturally ,as a Minister as soon as my resignation was accepted, and I am busy now squaring up my papers,” said the Hon. G. Eowlds to-day. “I am not prepared,” he added, “to make any statement on the subject of my resignation. I want to have some breathing time before I begin to talk on the subject. I made' my statement as full and unequivocal and clear as possible', and I want* to leave it there for "the present. “I don’t propose to adopt any section of the House,” lie added. “I shall support the Government proposals as far as they are in harmony with the general principles I have stood for. I’m not taking up any position of "antagonism to the Government. I will try to help them along, the path of progress rather than hinder them. I have been perfectly loyal in every shape and form, and I have not intrigued in any way with anybody, and 1 I am not taking any steps in that direction now. The only step 1 shijll take before the general election will be in the direction of putting my views before the people of New Zealand.”

WHAT MR. MACDONALD THINKS

A WHOLE-HEARTED TRIBUTE

“I very much regret to hear that Mr Eowlds lias decided to resign,” remarked Mr W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P. for Bay of Plenty. “As a member of the Ministry he was a very strong man, a man of great ability and a hard worker. He possessed high ideals, and threw his whole soul into the administration of his department. I feel convinced that education lias lost a very great friend, and a capable administrator in Mr Eowlds. He also took a very great interest and put a tremendous amount of hard! work into hospital management, and I think it must be recognised by all that he has exercised a great deal of self-sacrifice of his own personal views on various subjects that he felt strongly on. “So far as the political outlook is concerned,” added Mr MacDonald, “1 am of the same opinion as Mr Eowlds that the Government will go to the country with better prospects in view than any party ever had.”

NO REGULAR SEAT.

WILL HE RETAIN THE PREFIX ?

Mr Fowlcls docs not seem to have found a regular place to sit in since he left the Government benches. He entered the Chamber just .after the* sitting opened to-day and sat down beside Mr Poole, but Mr Russell soon beckoned him to his side, remarking that Mr Lanrenson, who usually sits there, was absent. It was accordingly from that place that the ex-Minister rose to present one or two petitions. He walked out soon afterwards and did not reappear during the afternoon or evening. It is assumed that Mr Fowlds wifi retain the prefix “hon.” as the right to do so is usually granted to one who lias been a minister for three years or more.