The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1912. POLYCHROMATIC CABINETS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1385, 11 March 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1912. POLYCHROMATIC CABINETS.

Under thiß heading the Cape Times, which has for long been the leading newspaper in South Africa, in January had a particularly well-informed editorial based on Sir Joseph Ward, on Sir Joseph Ward's performances as maker of Cabinets, and on Sir Joseph Ward's defeat at the polls in December last. The' Cape Town journal is obviously totally unable to comprehend the Parliamentary situation in New Zealand, familiar though it be with the "slimness" which- characterises pre-sent-day politics in South Africa. Sir Joseph Ward, however, is not "slim" in the South African sense; he is insufliciently clever to ho that. The Cape- Times remarks: "Sip. JosErn Ward has held the reins of office ever since the death of Mi:. Seddon, and though his party sustained defeat at the last general election only a- few weeks ngo. there has boon nothing in the telegrams to in* dicato that He has found it necessary

to resign ofliee as Prime Minister " in bouth Africa, as in all other self-governing Dominions within the British Lmpire, it has hitherto been the practice of Prime Ministers who t'lintl themselves in a minority, largo or small, to immediately r'e- *'•""• Hence the bewilderment of the Cape Town daily which has, apparently— probably like a great many newspapers in England and elsewhere—been searching for an explanation of this new phase in constitutional government. "His parlv sustained defeat at the last general election; but there has been nothing U) indicate that he has found it •necessary to resign office as Prime X-iiuister." This must have proved a serious conundrum for manv constitutional experts. Of course, all political authorities and all publicists cannot he expected to know about the inner workings, the secret activities, of Wardism. Still, a knowledge of Sir Joseph Ward's methods is spreading. The Cape Timrx proceeds to discuss the remarkable and baffling situation evolved by the retention of office after defeat at the polls, and wisely concludes that, possibly, "influence's have been brought once more into phy, and Sir. Joseph Ward has been able to turn a small majority against him into a minority." The Cape Times goes on to provide some amusing comment on Sir Joseph Ward's colleagues, whom it describes collectively as New Zealand's polychromatic Cabinet. We have before now pointed out the close resemblance between the Botha and the Ward Governments—more particularly in the Krugerism displayed by each —and it is not surprising that South African observers should have been struck by the same disquieting phenomenon. General Botha's Ministry, the Cape Times asserts, is likewise polychromatic, though tho colours arc less glaring than those of Sir. Joseph Ward's collection. The Hox. George Fowlds, the writer thinks, must have been singularly out of place in a Ward Cabinet. It is not often," he continues, "that a prominent member, who has only just resigned from a Cabinet which he has adorned for some considerable time, is so frank about the failures of the Government of which he formed a member as the Hon. George Fowlds, Sir Joseph Ward's late Minister for Education." "There seems to be sufficient evidence," he adds, "that, in the past, Sir Joseph Ward's Cabinets have been distinguished rather by their differences than by their agreements." The Cape Times concludes its dissertation on Ministerial tactics in New Zealand as' follows:—"Oil and vinegar, Mr. Merriman once remarked, will never mix. Sir Joseph Ward has been trying to mix them in New Zealand for several years, but, though he has succeeded himself in retaining office, his political 'mixtures have not been very satisfactory. His object has been to gather into his Cabinet representatives of every shade of political opinion in tho Dominion, and the consequence of such _ a system can hardly fail to bo evil. The one bond which can hold such a Cabinet together in such a case as New Zealand, where there is no dividing line of race, must be office, and though compromise may be the soul of politics, it is scarcely conceivable that there, could be honest compromise within a Cabinet on questions which individual members of the Cabinet regard from totally different points of view."