THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1381, 6 March 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

MINISTERS CONFER, % VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM, ' AX IMPORTANT COMMISSION, Very little fresh light was thrown upon Iho complexities of politics yesterday. A. slilto of surface calm prevails, but it is understood Ihat multifarious activities are proceeding underneath Iho surface. Cabinet sat for .soino hours yesterday afternoon, all the Ministers save Mr. Ngala being present, but no information was made public as to tho nature of ihe business transacted.

iho passage of time docs not mako he prospects o f (ho •'Liberals" look any brighter. ]( is generally agreed that j'.lr. 1. Mackenzie if the member most ikely (0 succeed Sir Joseph Ward as leader 01 Die Forty, but whoever the man may be, he will havo to perform a political task comparable only lo tho delicate act ol balancing on a light-rope. On the one hand he will have to satisfy Iho mode-rates m his following, not a low of whom would be decidedly inoro comfortable in the camp of their present opponents and on the other the .Radicals, with Ihe Labour party as im ultrn-radical lcftwing.

It is an interesting element of the situation that a very full measure of selfsacrifice is demanded in those whom it is proposed to eject from Ministerial rank in the interests of the Forty. If Sir Joseph Want resigns tho Awarua seat it will in all likelihood bo a gift to tho lioform Party, and Mr. Millar's departure from the political arena would probably produce a similar result. As much might bo said in regard to one or two other Ministers who are looked upon as ■prospective victims. As a whole, tho prospects of the Forty are not bright. Although broken pledges liavo detracted (0 a considerable extent from tho dignity and importance of the labour party, a. certain amount of interest still attaches lo their probable future action. It may be taken as certain that they will bo invited to attend the Ministerial .caucus which is to be held for tho purpose of appointing n new lender, but in all likelihood they will hold a caucus on their own account, at any rate, as n preliminary measure. Considering the difficulties (lint face (he Forty, there is no doubt that Labour can command a portfolio, but the acceptance of Ministerial rank by n Labour man would seriously diminish his own and his colleagues' ji-iwer of oxlorting concessions from (ho party which leans on them for support. A 'Labour Minister, like any other, would be perforce a Government apologist. It is therefore quite possible that Ihe Labour men may not atlend the Government caucus. IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION. WHO WILL RttPKESKN'T NEW ZKALAXD? Not a few people incline lo the opinion that. Sir Joseph "Ward will consent to ronresont JCew Zealand upon the Imperial .Trade Commission which is shortly to eonduet an exhaustive inriuiry into the trade resources and possibilities of (he Empire, The commission will syend Mima considerable time in carrying out its duties. Sir Joseph Ward himself stated when the subject was under discussion at the Imperial Conference of 1011 that a year or two at least would be occupied by the commission in making (he projected inquiry. Yesterday a Dohtnmox reporter sought to interview Sir Joseph Ward in regard to tho reoresentalion of Xpw Zealand on Ihe commission, but access to tho I , rime Minister was refused. His secretary slated that the matter wns under consideration, but that nothing in regard to it was av.'\ilable v for imblica'tion.

Home announcement will no doubt be made shortly, for a number of members have already been 'appointed to (he c< mmission. The Canadian representative was unpointed months hro. and a eable from Melbourne, nriuloil on Mondnv last, slated that Mr." Dounld Camybell.'.of South Australia, an «-Labour iiigihlkt of tlie Australian House of lioiirosentativcs, hiiil been appointed as the" Commonwealth's representative. Answering questions in the imperial House of Commons on November 2S, 1611, Mr. .Asrtuith slated that it was proposed to have one member on the commission from each Dominion and nix from the United Kingdom. Mr. Page Croft asked wliethor the question of salaries was a dillicuHy and whether the right lion, gentleman proposed to nay salaries. To this Mr. Asciuith replied in (he negative. He declared himself not in a position to say whether an Irishman would be appointed on the commission, but remarked that it would 1» made as complete and representative a body as possible. The proposal to appoint (he commission took its use from a resolution submitted by the Government of Australia, at the Imperial Conference Inst year, for supporting "efforts in favour of British manufactured .Roods,, and liritish shipping." Sir Wilfrid T.aurier said that it was a case iu which information must precede effort, and' h<! proposed Hint his Majesty should lie asked to appoint a Hoy.nl " Commission representing the I'nilt'd Kingdom and the Dominions j "with a view of investigating ami reporting upon the natural resources of each part of (he Empire represented, the development attained and attainable, and (he facilities for production, manufacture and distribution, Hie trade of each part with the others find with (he outside, world, the food and raw material requirements of each, and the sources thereof available; to what extent, if any, the trade between eacli of the different parts has been all'octed by existing legislation in each, cither beneficially or otherwise." Mr. llarcourt proposed to add "and by what methods, consistent with the existing fiscal policy of each parl, the trade- »f each part with Iho others may bo improved nnd extended." With I his addition the resolution was agreed 10, Mr. As(|iii(li promising I hat the 1 lonic Government would spare no pains to secure as their representatives upon (he Commission tho ablest men possible. The resolution as passed was cordially supported bv various Dominion representatives. Sir Joseph -Ward aiming them, and several of them suggested thai the Dominion should bear some part, of the cost of the commission. Since he failed lo caplure the Pn'.merston >iortl\ seat at, the late flection, rumour has been busv with the name of Mr. R. M'X.'ib. O'uo theorist, usually well informed, named him yesterday as a probable successor to Sir William ilallJones in the -oflke of High Commissioner.