POLITICAL RUMOURS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 4

POLITICAL RUMOURS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S BARONETCY. (By TckEraph.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, July 14. The accepiancy of a baronetcy by Sir Joseph Ward has made Mr. C. H. Poole, M.l\, angry, and last night ho characterised tho Prime Minister's action as tho blunder oT his life. Ho said Sir Joseph Ward could never call himself a democrat, again. 110 suggested that thoro should bo iu New Zealaud a Hereditary Titles Prevention Act, which would act, as dm tho Ninth Clause of .the American Constitution. Tho acceptancc of the baronetcy, he went 011 to say in a less serious way, had unset all their calculations, lie did not befievo Sir Joseph Ward would stay in New Zealand, and it was possible that Sir John Findlay might seelc the Awarua seat. He could not tell who would be tho next Prime Minister, but if Sir John Findlny got tho Awnrua seat there was no tcllini? whero 110 would stop. Inferring to tbo AYanganui rumour, Air. Toolo said: "It's a newspaper rumour, but it mav be true." If kir John Findlay chose to stand for AVanpa--nui, and there was any chance of \\ ansanui thus obtaining a Minister representative, Sir John lindlay would win the seat.

Mr. Poole's view, and a rumour in circulation bore do not coincide. Tbo rumour is to the effect that at a recent Cabinet meeting the possibility of Sir Joseph Ward's returning to England was discussed, and it was agreed that m that event Hir Janies Carroll should bo selected as the Leader of tho Liberal party, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Thursday's "Otago Daily Times" says that the rumours that are current at tho present time credit tho Government with the determination to make additional appointments to the Legislative Council, sumo of them will be such extraordinary character as will distinctly fortify tho popular objection to the system of nominating to the Legislative Council that is in vogue.