THE POLITICAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1394, 21 March 1912, Page 7

THE POLITICAL CRISIS

TO-DAY'S CAUCUS. PROBABILITIES AND POSSIBILITIES, INTERESTING HUMOURS. At eight o'clock this evening the members of tho "Liberal" party avo to meet in caucus at Awariia House to elect a new leader. A majority of the' Government members had arrived in town yesterday, and most of the others arc to arrive this morning. Considering tho importance of the occasion and the vital influence which tho decision of the caucus will exercise upon the future fortunes of the "Liberal" party, very little excitement or enthusiasm is in evidence. Liberal .members who were spoken to yesterday mostly affected to take a cheerful view of the position, but some of them candidly admitted that their prcspcets wero not rosy. "Wo have always had a certain number of loose ends," one mem'ber remarked, "but hitherto there has been a solid centre to the parly. Now things are much more evenly • divided." Another member expressed nn opinion lhat the South Island representatives would vote for Mr. Millar as -leader, and tho North Islanders for Mr. Tiros. Mackenzie. This estimate of the position was confirmed by other members, some of whom, however, also regard it as possible that Mr. Macdonald may bo elected by way of a compromise.

lii all the members who were approached there was an evident disposition to welcome the idea of a compromise. That, something of the kind must be, arrived at all of them admitted. Tho man has not been born whose political views would attract to him tho whole-hearted support of all sections of tho "Liberal" party, not lo speak of its Labour allies.

Tho opinion, seems to bo widely entertained that the Labour members will agree to support, meantime, any leader whom the "Liberal" caucus' may elect, and that the character of the legislation introduced will determine the way in which their votes will lie cast when Parliament next assembles..'

It may- ho assumed, from the guarded talk of some of the country "Liberal" members that they do not by any means relish the prospect of clinging to office by the grace -of the Labour representatives, but they-defend 'their acceptance of this support by alleging—with a studied avoidance of the subject of broken pledges—that it was angled for by both parties in Parliament, and that their sido won. One country member frankly admitted that ho would not support a policy of "red flag" Socialism, but he hastened to add that he did not anticipate that any difficulty of- that character would arise. It was rumoured in town yesterday as one of tho latest "political developments" that Sir John Fiudlay is to be rewarded for his strenuous but unsuccessful effort to capture the Parncll seat at tho last general election by.being appointed High Commissioner. That office falls vacant at' the end of the present month, and it will presumably be one of the first portant acts of tho new Ministry to fill it. Mr. K. M'Xab is one of those who have been mentioned as possible aspira.'its to the position, and another is Mr. Harold Beauchamp, late chairman of di-

rectors to the Bank of Now Zealand. On account of the state of his health, and for other reasons, however, Mr. Beauchamp is now considered to havo dropped out of the running. . Amongst tho members of the "Liberal" party who are now in town aro Sir Joseph Ward, Sir .las. Carroll, tho non. J. A. Millar, tho Hon. li. M'Kenzio. tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, tho Hon. LVBuddo, Sir Arthur Guinness, 'Messrs. T. H. Davev, G. W. Russell, H. G. Ell, W. 1). S. Ma'cdnnald, T. Buxton, T..E. Yr Seddon, J. Hauan, C. Pi. Fnratn, and Dr. To Rangihiroa. Mr. H. Atmore, member for Nelson, who declares himself an Independent,' is also in town. Members duo to n''i'ivo to-morrow are: Messrs. G. Laurenson, J. Colvin, T. K. Sidey, G. W. Forbes, J. Craigie, A. M. Myers, J. V. Brown, R, W. Smith, A. E. Glover, and the Hon. A. T. Ngata. Tho four Labour members are to meet in Wellington to-day, and, according to a statement made by Mr. A; H. Hindmarsh a week ago, will.confer with the "Liberal" party.