The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 28, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3409, 28 December 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 28, 1911.

Things political are decidedly mixed. ' Upon paper, it is evident that on a want of confidence motion the Ward Government would have to go out of office. But in that event would a Massey Government be able to carry on for any length of time ? That is the great question which is at present exercising the minds of the electors. For our own part, as we have remarked on a previous occasion, we do not see how it is possible for Sir Joseph Ward to command a majority in the new House. If all the members who have indicated that they sire opposed to the Government of\ wljich he is the head vote against it—should it come to a want of confidence motion—out the present occupants of the Treasury Benches must assuredly go! Mr. Massey, on the other hand, does, therefoi'e, stand a good chance of becoming Prime' Minister, but who can say for how long? Leaving out of consideration—for. the moment— the Labor and Independent members, it i-, of course, well known that, as oetwcen Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey, the latter has by far the more reliable following. Speaking generally, Mr. Massey could rely upon the Reform party supporters to a man; whilst Sir Joseph has a party the component sections of which are truly very difficult to manage. But, as we have already pointed out, everything depends upon the attitude adopted by those members who do not belong to either of tlfe leading por litical parties. How the Labor members are going to help matters in the new Parliament it is not easy to see. If a majority of them vote with Mr. Massey, the Ward Administration, as we have emphasised, will be no more. For liow long afterwards could Mr. Massey then depend upon their assistance? A Vo are afraid that Air. IVlas-i sey would find that he was unable to pay the price which would be asked in return for help. Everything, it is plain, tends towards the possibility of another appeal to the electors. Only one thing can obviate this course—and that is the addition to the Massey party of discontented members from the Ward side of the House. It may be the case that one or more weak supporters at present of Sir Joseph Ward may agree to transfer their allegiance in order to obviate the danger of failure to secure re-election at an immediate return to the country. Even should such prove to be the ease, Mr. Massey, we fear, would not hold a very enviable post. As showing that neither of the rival leaders could rely upon permanent support from Labor, one has only to give a little consideration to a proposal that has just emanated from Mr. Payne, who succeeds the Hon. G. Fowlds as member for Grey Lynn. When before the electors he spoke strongly against the Ward Administration, but now what does .he say? It is possible, he now maintains, for the four Labor members to present an ultimatum to the Premier requiring him to abdicate in favor of a Labor Premier and assist such Labor Premiei in constructing a Labor Cabinet, talc-

An Ambitious Proposal.

ing in tie other three Labor members! Sir Joseph Ward, We should say, would never agree to any such interesting suggestion. But the alternative which Mr. Payne suggests is equally striking. “If this ultimatum be not complied with by the Premier,” it reads, ,< ‘the only course open to us is to compel a full inquiry into the finances of the Dominion by voting the Ward Administration out by our support of a no-confidence motion by Mr Massey! Of the other Labor members, Mr. Veitch is the only one who has attempted to discuss the attitude which Labor should adopt, but all he has had to say on the subject has been that he does not ’ regard Mr. Payne’s proposal as at all practicable or even reasonable in theory. What Labor—or three out of its four rnemliers —will probably be found doing in the end will be assisting the Reform Party to turn out the Ward Government if it does not see its way to resign. Then—what next? Maybe a concerted but impossible Labor demand upon Mr. Massey and bis party! The political situation is truly very interesting, but matters may take a lot of straightening out.