WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1331, 8 January 1912, Page 4

WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS.

CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS IN CABINET. A MINISTERIAL PAPER'S CANDID STATEMENT. (By .Telcßraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, January 6. In the course of a ,roview of tho political situation, the Wanganui "-Herald," which supported the Government at the recent elections, says in to-night's issue that neither reconstruction of the Cabinet, tho appointment of more North island Ministers, nor the holding out of tho bait of portfolio to tho Labour members will strengthen Sir Joseph Ward's/ position, "hi fact," it goes on to say, "in all tho speculations and surmises that havo been going on, the real public mind as disclosed' last month has -been overlooked. The holding of tho caucus will certainly intimate to tho Premier what his Parliamentary followers think, but does not necessarily convey to'him what the public thinks. Members of the caucus, after consultation with a few of their leading supporters, may come to certain conclusions, but it by no means follows that the opinions of the few will reflect tho opinions held by the many who comprise tho mind of tho country. To find the mind of tho country ono must go further than tho holding of a caucus, and dig. deeper than the mere gathering of opinions from a few prominent election supporters. If tho observer can for a space shut his cars to the sayings in caucus and make himself oblivious to the clamour of perfervid press controversy, and if ho Will turn diis ears in another direction, and go himself among the rank and file, ho will hear tho deep hum of quite another note, and when he has heard it ho will, if eanely disposed, conclude that it is of no uso blinking obvious facts. He will perceive that, though Sir Joseph Ward may -drop Messrs. Buddo, R. M'Kcuzie, Ngatn, and Sir James Carroll, and replace them by ojthc'rs, tho dcep-hiimmiiig hole will continue, and it will be a note betokening the dissatisfaction which has not been allayed. He will see that the country has dc--manded, not only a change in the Cabinet, but also a change in leadership. The public may bo in tho right or it may be in the wrong, but there i$ no hiding tho fact that this is the position revealed by the recent elections."

The "Herald" then goes on to urge tho formation of a new party out of tho more progressive and democratic elements of the Liberal party in conjunction with Independent and Labour members, and says; "The present party known as Liberal is composed of mixed elements. Some of it is fossilised, if not reactionary, but there is enough of it tliat is democratic enough and progressive enough, and if it only realised the fact, strong enough to strike out in the direction tho country desires.' If' these at heart progressives would join forces with Labourites and Independents and promulgato a forward policy nothing could: stand against them,"

Concluding, the paper says: "The bold course in such circumstances is always the best. We huvo no suspicion that members of Parliament, generally speaking, will look on the above considerations with enthusiastic favour! They hit hard against too many cherished personal ambitions, but we can assure them the country cares little for cherished personal munitions. What it wants are good results. To those of them who may bo disposed to read tho writing on the wall wo only repeat that the opportunity awaits, that tho bold course is the best and safest, and that he who hesitates is lost." •