THE FOURTH ESTATE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 5

THE FOURTH ESTATE.

OPINIONS AND FORECASTS. A FUTILE PRETEXCE. /" The "Otago Daily Times" soys: "it Seems to be fairly well established (hat the Primo Minister's intention is, if possiblo, to remain in office for a few mouths longer upon tho preteuco that tho electors have provided him with a bare majority (if supporters in the Uoiiso of Hepfesehtatives. That this is only a. pretence is, however, fairly clear. But, oven 'if Sir Joseph Ward were to get his Own way 111 retaining possession of pow'Cr until 1 arhaiiipiit should meet after tho coheluHon of tho'financial year on- March-31 liext, it is a reasonable surmises that'ho would Mill have serious troubles to'Coiltend with. . . . In order to - satisfy the demands of his own party, the Primo'Minister would have to reconstruct the Cabinet to such an extent that it would practically bo a new Government, ami this, it. need luirdly be pointed but, would ho an exceedingly hnzardous„iindertal<ii)g 011 his part; ,at such a time, siiicc tha execution of it would at once preseiit any disappointed office-seekers with a'plausibfo pretext for a disavowal of-theirallegiance, -\ Even if Sir Joseph AVard.were ouls to command a bare majority,'winch is tho must that it is claimed he can secure, the future would hi l full of difficulties for him. But the first duty that devolves niton him is to show the Governor that he luis a majority of any kind. And an analysis of the composition of tho new House has led us, as it must alsfi have led most people, to tho conviction not only that the Primo Milliliter is uilable to command i\ i baro majority, but that thorn is a distinct majority .against him. In that case thet-o sfiould lie an early session of Parliament, iu order that the necessary change of' Government liiay b« made. Even if it were doubtful whether there was a majority against the. Government— if llie matter were not put moro strongly ;than tliat-rParliament should 119 .su'milioho'd'without anV unnecessary delay in order that the issuo might bo settled 0110 way or the other."

"OUGHT," AND "PROBABLY WILL." Tho Diinedin "Star" says-.—"There is a growing conviction, among those who hnvc tho hest moons of judging, not only tlirxt the Primo Minister ought, but that he probably will, rail Parliament together in the course of the next few webkt.:. . .

Oil'the other hand, the idea of Parliament being summoned, to. meet fouiiext irtk? 1c is not only unreasonable and absurdit is virtually- impossible. II seetns to ns that about the second .week'iri Februavy would be u. suiiablo time,"

A DESPERATE EFFORT, j A;deSper(ito iiosilibn: no dojibt callfj fot desperate efforts at extrication (saysi the "W.iirarapa Daily Times") and the lemarkablo i attempt made by the leader of the Government to'buy . thti support of Mr.. Veitdi, the..Labour member for Wanganui nt oute shows the unhappy feituation of the Government and gives som& indication of tho lengths to which "the party is prepared to go in order.'.to Vebiu office. Persons charitably" iiiclin'ed were ready to believe that Sir Joseph. Ward wished to review his fortes and consult his,followers before making any reply to the pronouncement made by tha FC-oplfc. of New Zealand lit the ballot-box, and they accordingly excused. his in announcing his intentions. But—if tho D(minion's information is ; correct, an!. wo see 110 reason to doubt it—this offer to Mr. Veitch. puts an entirely'different complexion on affairs. The Government leaders are deliberately marking time in. order to give themselves'a chance (o find a \vav out of the Uncomfortable corner in which the elections liavo placed' them. They evidently thought that, by bribing Mr. Veiteh with it portfolio, they would make Mm forget his election pledges, olid assist them to hang.on to tho,oili<!<i N they liavo held so long imd so dearly • love, i'hey little, knew tho character of tha man they were dealing with. This disclosure will—indeed, must—arouse (lie indignation of the whole country, and fores the long-awaited announcement from 6'ir Jcsoph Ward, ' '