POLITICAL CRISIS.

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

POLITICAL CRISIS.

THE "LIBERALS'" PLIGHT. With tho Prime Minister nnd most of his colleagues absent from Wellington, a lull plains in local political circles. It is unlikely Hint, tho prevailing calm will be seriously disturbed until after March 21, when a new leader is to l>o set tho iiu. possible task of forming a Ministry that will satisfy the country, from tho incongruous elements at his command. Although several members of the Forty have been successively named as possible. Prime Ministers, a general opinion is lhat tho mnnllo of Sir Joseph' Ward will fall , on tho linn. T. Mackenzie. Kvon members of tho "Liberal" party who hold; Hint the Hon. J. A. Millar is tho ablest man in tho parly available n.s leader, and that he has deserved well of his parly, ore. confident that the vote of tho caucus will go to tho member for Egmont, It is admitted that Mr. Millar would command tho solid support of a wing of tho party', but it is considered that ho would be as definitely opposed by another section. Mr. Mackenzie, as his friends aro enrcful lo point out, is not a strong party , man. Hi!) adversaries add that ho is on that account all tho better lilted to head a parlj of "shreds ami patches." Although some of Sir Joseph Ward's followers, Mr. T. Mackenzie among the number, linvo expressed tho opinion that he will refuse to accept any appointment which would remove him from active participation in tho politics of tho Dominion, (hero nro others of his supporters who consider it quite likely that lie will either become, a member of tho Imperial Trade Commission or accept tho High Coiumissionership. One prominent Government supporter, who was spoken to yesterday, said that ho saw no reason why Sir Joseph Ward should not accept one of tbesa appointments, and added that ho did not attach importance lo statements of an op. posilo trend which had been made b.v other members of tho party. The fact soems to be. that Sir Joseph Ward, while retaining freedom to act in future as his interests diclnle, has not taken his tolhiwers fully into his confidence in regard, to his intentions. This is the onlv popeiblc deduction from tho fact that different members of his pnrty hold direcllv opposed views as lo the course he will adopt after resigning his portfolios.