RECONSTRUCTED 'LIBERALISM'

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1370, 22 February 1912, Page 4

RECONSTRUCTED 'LIBERALISM'

The attitude taken up by Sir Joseph Ward in intimating his intention to relinquish the leadership of tho party provided he can secure a majority on the no-confidence motion now under discussion does not materially affect the political situation. Pie was doomed i-t •■'"t case. But his intimation does serve to direct attention in a mj. v . ...... phatic way to the selfishness which has throughout characterised the conduct of the Ward Administration. Sir Joseph Ward on tho present occasion asks in effect that the members who were elected to turn him out of office should dishonour their pledges and vote to keep him in, in .order that ho may be spared tho humiliation of defeat. Their dogradation counts as nothing so long as he can prevent the carrying of the motion which they were elected to assist to carry. He asks them to sacrifice themselves and those who elected them in order that he may be able to make the empty boast that ho was not defeated, but resigned. But while this unpleasant aspect of the situation cannot fail to provoke censure, the really interesting feature is tho question of who is io succeed Sir Joseph Ward in the event of his retirement. _ The plain fact is, and it is now being generally recognised; that'although Sir Joseph Ward has failed, and failed badly, as the leader of the party, there is no one who can hope to succeed him with any reasonable hop.e of welding the party together and instilling into it that spirit of enthusiasm essential to success. Mk. Millar who a little time ago was freely talked of as a rival of, or successor to, Sir Joseph Ward, seems,to have dropped into the background altogether of late. Despite his declaration to the contrary during the election campaign, we find it difficult to believe that Mr. Millar really desires to take up the cares attached to the office of Prime Minister, and much less the. thankless task of Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Millar has some of the qualities of leadership, but he lacks industry, and would find the ties too galling to be long endured. Mr. G. LaurexSON, who is a leading advocate of the leasehold policy, has been mentioned as a possible successor to Sir Joseph. Ward, although it is hard to find a Rood reason for this choice. Mr. Laurenson is a fairly good debater, but is too much of a political scold, and certainly carries little weight with the House. It may be taken as evidence of the ■weakness of the Government party, in the matter of material out of which leaders might be made, that the name of the member for Lyttelton should be put forward seriously on such an occasion. The member most mentioned at the moment, however, is the Hon. T. Mackenzie, who deserted from tho ranks of the Opposition, and in a very little time was rewarded by Sir Joseph Ward with a portfolio. Mr; Mackenzie is a freeholder, and in the past has not been over-popular with the Radical section of the Government following, some of whom resented his elevation to Ministerial rank over the heads of tried and trusty members of the party. He is not without, certain qualities which make, for popularity, but it is very doubtful if he would venture on the task of attempting to hold together a party constituted as the Government party is to-day. Indeed, looking through the ranks of "Liberalism" to-day, , one searches in vain for a possible leader. Sir Arthur Guinness was mentioned in Christchurch, and is certainly more popular than the average member, but even if he were willing to relinquish the Speakership to lead a forlorn hope, he is hardly the man for the task. What then has "Liberalism" to look forward to? It must be confessed— even by its friends—that the outlook even under the most favourable circumstances is far from reassuring. After 20 years of office, however, a period in opposition should prove a wholesome thing for the party, as well as for the country. It can experiment in the matter of finding a leader with much less danger to the community while in opposition than would be possible wore the party to remain in power.