STILL ANONYMOUS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1382, 7 March 1912, Page 5

STILL ANONYMOUS.

-MINISTRY A CONTINUED MYSTERY, PRIME-MINISTER SILENT, •60MB PRESS OPINIONS. The anonymous Ministry preserves its anonymity. For all that can bo Been, political offairs are at a etnndstill and there is no prospect of renewed activity until the Forty assemble in caucus to select <i now Leader. Ministers met once again in secret conclave yesterday and it, may bo hazarded thai matters of some importance were discussed, for (ho Hon. ,L A. Millar delayed his departure to Auckland presumably in order that ho might attend tho meeting. Probably tho one- man who tould throw interesting light on tho political situation of tho moment is Sir Joseph Ward and Jio declines to talk. He has taken refuge iu u silence, that recalls the dava anil weeks preceding the short session just ended. Inquirers who attempt to op. jH'oach (he Prime Minister are told by his office staff that he has "nothing to say." The "Christchurch Press" sums'up the duty of the promised reconstrucbod Minisfry m u few pithy words as follows:— '\Ye hold that any new Ministry which nfsy bo formed will lie guilty of a grave dereliction of duty if it doe's not; advise his Excellency nt. once to <:nll .Parliament together, so that tho political deadlock may be removed. If, as wo hepe and believe will be the case, the solution is found in the accession of a lleftam Ministry to office, wo have litllo doubt that there will bo a wholesale revival of confidence throughout (he Dominion, Ilic currents of trade and commerce will resume their normnl flow, ami villi (he iidvent of fresh civpital into Iho. country New Zealand should bi> able (o look forward, to a fresh era of prosperity." The Forty have a vigorous opponent and critic in the "West, Coast Times," which has lately been engaged in a ("loveless controversy with its local contemporary. From n vigorous opening, tho "Times" continues an article mi the politico! situation in tho following lernr.xi—"But (ho people have nol been blind to Iho manner in which the Ward Administration has been guilly of maladministration, and the so-called Liberal party has boon weighed in iho balance and found wanting. The process has teen gradual, as will bo hooii from tho records. ](. was not ; mental Aberration which caused Ihe deal It senti'iico (o be pronounced upon the present Admiuislration; the procotis has lyoii going on for six years. Below is a table inc'.iwitins the decline uf Sir Joseph Ward's Government :— Sir Joseph Wnrd'f Year. . Parly. 1905 .■ 5? 1111)8 48 1911 ....A:. , .... 33 The result of the elections toll the falo, Thev show that whatever it may be contended tho people think of any other party, they have done with tho 'Liberal* party. Hut tho Reform party's ascend, alley has been just as gradual and consistent as has been tho other party's decline, us will bo seen from those, figuresi— Sir. Massey's Year. ■ Party. . 11105 15 • inns ~ L'(i 1911 38 As a further convincing, indication of Ihe (rend of pomiliir opinion, the "Times", submits ihe following tables, showing the voting, at successivo elections, in tho constituency of the Prime -Minister, and in that of his principal opponent:— Awarua's Opinion of the Prime Minister. Election. '~''' , Votes for. Majority, HH)S • 3,558 »,8-<> ]!l!J8 3,()li!) 1,588 IJUII 2,850 409 Franklin's Opinion of Mr. Mnssey. Election. Votes for. Majority, 11105 3,100 !M7 IDOB 2,781 1.187 1911 3,(i()5 1,872 AN AUSTRALIAN" VJEW. The following editorial, under the ing, "Sir Joseph Ward's Manoeuvres," apTiearcil in the Adelaide "Kegistcr , . , : of February 2-i last. The "liegister" is one of tho oldest and most'reputable journals in Australia:— • , . "The latest advice ft Din Wellington indicates that the no-confidence motion in the Ministry will be defeated; but the political reputation of Sir Joseph Ward, L'art., will not bo enhanced by his conduct in reference to tho verdict recorded, at the Xow Zealand general election in December.- His behaviour is lacking in personal dignity and in respect for the best Parliamentary tra-litions. He has astutely endeavoured to utilise Ministerial office and influence to modify for liis own and his party's, advantage the political situation created by tho will of the people through tho ballot box. The pollings emphatically testified (o a rapidly growing and earnest desire throughout the ' Dominion (1) for a change of Administration, and (2) for moderate and safe Liberal legislation which would encourage private capitalistic enterprises and give land-own-ers a. sense of security sui-h as they have not enjoyed for many years. The elections left Ihe parties as follow:— Opposition (Hoformers). 37; Government, 35; Independents, 1; Labour, i; Socialists, 1; Maoris, 3. In view of the largo majority which Sir Joseph Ward hail coiiiinam'led iu the late Parliament, tlics-o returns should have prompted his Ministry l<l vacate ollioe and afford Ibn Hclonnors the opportunity of fulfilling the wishes of the electorate.-: and provini; their administrative abilities. Instead of pursuing this straightforward course, Sir Joseph Ward artfully prepared bails to cniuurij for Ihe Ministry the voles of the small, group* which Mood aloof from the two important parlies and in order toaohicvo his purpos-r h« proposed to commit Hie Dominion to Ihe adoption of more oxIreine niouMiro limn were included in hie policy as enunciated on the hustings! "Tims, for parly and personal ends i tins filled 'iiri-h-demewnt' treats with.! contempt the rising wave of Reform, and! , is ready to accoutuate ilin kind of legit-1 -ration which the people's verdict con- , domned. Necessarily, the unpatriotic and' chort-Kißhtcd policy, if adopted, would extend class cleavae-f. fan parly strife, 1 lower the torn , ol politics and lessen ! public confidence in the honour and bomv tides of Parliamentary institutions and: rule. Tlio situation, from the publio standpoint,'is not -improved by Sir Joseph Ward's announced intention, to resign the Premiership and lake a seat as a private member. Having determined by everymeans in his power to prevent Mr. Mnssey and his followers from taking office, Mr Joseph Ward is willing to sutronder tho Premiership in order to win for his party the support of Socialists who. had pledged themselves to their constituents (o vote against him. But a. reconstructed Liberal Ministry would still be under the control of the liinn who had prepared their no icy for them, and whose manoeuvres had pitchforked them on lo the Treasury benches. Mr. T. Mackenzie or whoever else might become Premier, in. the circumstances, would act as the agent of Sir Joseph Ward, until such lime as that power-loving politician deemed it expedient for him naain openly to lako the poet of command."