HE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 26 March 1912, Page 5

HE POLITICAL CRISIS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S RESIUNATIOiN. PROBABLY TO-DAY. THE COMING CABINET. It is expected that Sir Joseph Ward will hand in his resignation to tho Governor to-day, and will nominate the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie 115 his successor in the office of Prime Minister. Tho personnel of tho new Cabinet will be announced within u day or two. There are still a. number of "Liberal" members in town, apart from those who are looked upon as prospective Ministers, but matters political have temporarily settled down into a condition of wailing calm. Some of its units do not hido their dissatisfaction at the position and prospects of tho "Liberal" party. One member said yesterday, quite frankly: ','We are not by any means a happy family, and there is bound to be an appeal to tho country before long." Another member, one who Ims beon named as a possible Minister, remarked that it was simply a question of whether the new Cabinet could attract support from members of tho Opposition, or vhe Keform party attract some members who are now Government supporters. There are good grounds for believing that tho Hon. J. A. Millar will decline to accopt any portfolio in tho new Cabinet; that, hn.iug been denied the leadership, he will refuse to accept any subordinate Ministerial position. It is held that the Hon. It. M'Kenze may possibly retain his present portfolio. Mr. Poland is still being mentioned as a possible Minister for Mines; but his appointment is considered unlikely, as it would exclude from tho Cabinet Mr. W. D. S. Macdonald, whose prospects are considered brighter.