THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1391, 18 March 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

CAUCUS NEXT THURSDAY. Rumours aro still tho staple faro in political circles, and it is unlikely Unit iinyHiins more -siibslanliiil will bo made available until tint "Liberal" party has iiiel: in caucus on ThuiMhvy evening' next, ilie iiicetiii!; will fake pluco nt Awnnin llmisK ill 8 p.m. (in 11ml- ilnlo. Tlic J'l-itiio .Minister w;is again approached by a JJiiminion- reporter Inst; evening, but the (inly slalomont clicifed wus tho slcreoIvjird one I hat Sir .losepli Ward liml nothing to communicate. THE PREMIER'S POSITION. On his return from (ho north on Fridav evening, (ho I'riiiio Minister was uskvil whether lie would accept .i portfolio in I lie .Ministry. lie ivplipd;— 'The position is exactly as 1 intimated to the 11 MM!. 1 have not changed the opinion I. nrrivod ill; and publicly slated. J no suggestion in tho Dunedin telegram f nit I made tin equivocal reference us to Jim (■.il.Mfjuos (o l>2 selected by the new lender lias no jiislilicalion so far as I am I'lmcmuMl. I liavo hold one opinion all along, namely, that tho now leader should select his own colleague?, nml 1 have never ut any (iino suggested that tho now leader should be hampered in his .selection by submitting his prospective (Jiiliiuc-t to a caucus meeting. 1 have been communicated with since my arrival here regnrding llm suggestion that I was likely to hold a portfolio in tho new Ministry, but I should like to give it an omphalic contradiction, ns I have no intontion of doing anything of the kind." THE HON. J. A. MILLAR. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, March 10. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar, who passed through Christchurch this morning, wns questioned regarding ncivspaper reports that (ho leadership of (ho Liberal party had been nctiiully allotted to him. Hβ merely said that ho had absolutely nntiling to say, and ho declined to discuss the, subject. "Don't you think it would bo advisable, to .'.ay something," he was asked, "in view of thn important position you aro in and tlio interest the people take in your attitude?" "I simply don't think of it at all," he replied, "and this is all about it." The Minister will ppcml (ho week-end in Dunedin, nnd will pass through Christchurch acain on Tuesday evening, on his ■way to Wellington to attend the parly caucus on Thursday, when it is expected (he leader will be selected and the formation of a new Government will be attempted, "LIBERAL" RESOLUTIONS. ' '(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Tauranga, March IC. At a ir.c'.'ting of supporters of tho Liboral parly held hero to-day the following resolution wns passed:—"TJiat this meetin;,' of supporters of the Liberal party lender their hearty congratulations t'o Mir Joioph Ward-on the splendid and j-traiglittormmi manner in which he lias 'conducted matters, and on the victory he obtained during the late crisis, ami express sympathy in tho many trying exporiences to which ho lius lately been subjected; also (heir extreme regret at his retirement from the leadership of the party, and their high appreciation of tho groat work he lias accomplished in the p.ist in tho interest of true Liberalism, and the prosperity ot our Dominion, and tneir continued confidence in him as their leader, and that at no distant dale ho will be persuaded to reconsider his decision and again resume the leadership of tho party he has led so well." Blenheim, March 10. The executive of the Liberal party here has unanimously passed a resolution that it desires to exoress its high appreciation of the Premier's great services to tho Dominion as Minister and Leader, and that it recognised the fact that his unselfish political act commands the respect for the high ideals of ono who is ready to sacrifice himself in tho interest of his party, a,nd it hoped' that he would be shortly called upon to continue or reffiumo his 'high office. REFORM MEETING AT STRATFORD. Arrangements are practically completed for the Reform party rally at Stratford oi>. March 2S. The member for tho distiict, Mr. J. B. Hino, M.P., is to be honoured with a presentation. Addresses will be delivered by Mr. W. F. Massev, Reform Leader, and other members of the l>arty. .