The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3418, 9 January 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1912.

“Putting it to the Touch.”

We cannot say that we are surprised at the latest turn of events in connection with the pot litical crisis- The . Ward Administration had open to it three courses: It- might have resigned ! without meeting Parliament; or iti might have endeavored to carry on un- ! til June, when Parliament would in the ordinary course have met; or it might (as has been decided) have recommended his Excellency the Governor to summon an early session of Parliament, at which the relative strength of parties could at once be settled. TTnd< r all the circumstances Sir Joseph Waid. has probably done what a majority of other statesmen would have done if they had found themselves similarly situated- Had the Government resigned without meeting Parliament it would perhaps have amounted to a display of J greater weakness than the position actually warranted. It is, however, also j ertain that had the Government attempted to defer the holding of the next sitting of Parliament until June it would have been very injudicious to its interests, seeing that it has no acknowledged majority. There was, therefore, , only one thing for the Ward party to do, and that was to arrange a trial of strength in Parliament at an early date. In this connection the statement which lias been made public on the matter by the Prime Minister is of interest. No one, we should say, will disagree with him when he says “that it is essential for the good and sound government of any country that the party in power should have a majority supporting it.” He still claims, it will be seen, that he has a small majority on a- want of confidence motion. As things stand to-day, it is surely a case of wish being father to the thought. One cannot really help wondering whether the Prime Minister himself really believes what he is now asserting, seeing that, later on-, he declares “that the two main parties are practically even, and a small Independent section of members has thus the. balance, of power.” For our own part we feel certain that Sir Joseph Ward has only done right under the circumstances in not listening to advice to the effect that he should defer thei calling of Parliament together until the ordinary date or after the close of the financial year. Just at the present time there is a strong demand from end to end of the Dominion that the question at issue should be put to the test- This opportunity will now lie , afforded at an early date. ,