THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1386, 12 March 1912, Page 4

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie is leaving no word unspoken to persuade the "Liberals" that he is tho man who is to save the "Liberal" party which used to keep him in convulsions of scornful_ laughter a few years ago. At a social in Otago to a Me. Mason, who, we gather, stood as a supporter of the Government, he ma do a very singular speech. He "wished to say publicly" that "the present Ministers had a complete understanding," to the point that "each was individually prepared to sacrifice himself for the Liberal cause." This was very nice and heroic; but a moment later Mr. Mackenzie shoved that ho considers nobody else is in it for the temporary Premiership by a statement which amounted to this: that Mr. Millar possibly, but most improbably, in his opinion, be in the running. And he wound up by admitting nis thirst for the Lands portfolio and then giving away the whole case for the land policy of the "Liberal" Government. In his anxiety to recommend himself to the good folk of Middlemarch, he promised that he would end the stupid land policy of the Government. It is all very funny and very sad, this feverish anxiety of the big and little "Liberals"; but it is of small consequence one way or the other. It has been wisdom on the part of the Reform party's leaders to refrain for the time being from comment upon the position of the "Liberals," who are the best comment upon themselves and their unpleasant and ignominious position. The public is very glad to be free for a little from the turmoil of politics, and is able to watch with amused interest the unpublished but still plainly visible struggle of the "Liberals" to patch up a sort of Ministry. For anyone who cares to remember the earlier days of the "Liberal" party, there is vast entertainment in the decltimalions against Labour leaders and La l)i)Ui' principles that once enlivened tin) speeches of the mnn who ir, now Imping lo lead ;i mixed party of IsiTTR and Vigoi! Bijownk dependent for its existence upon Labour volns. Rut for the ordinary man the position of the ''Liberal. , -" is amusing nnd disgusting enough without any special kiipwlclKO of Uib nnst of Uui'f queer party, The forces that in 1005

cut clown the proud "Liberal" majority from 50 to 28, and in 1911 swept the majority away altogether, are still existent, ami quite ready to perfect their work. The election of last December was fought on the very plain issue of Tammany rcrxti* .Reform, and the reality of that issue remains unaffected, excepting that it is actually sharpened, by the desperate manoeuvring of the, party ;it present in oflice. At an early date, no doubt, when the "Liberals" have .showed their character quite plainly, the. licform party will make use of the platform._ The necessity that it should do so is small, but the Bnform sentiment in the country, which is of far more importance to us than the Keform party in Parliament, will feel that it is the duty of the parly to take action before the opening of the session. In the meantime we are rather glad that the ''Liberal', party is busy making publicity for itself, and sorry that there is not more rope for it to take.