THE CABINET CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 5

THE CABINET CRISIS.

NOTHING DONE,

THE FORTY IN DIFFICULTIES.

DANGEROUS DELAY-

MR. MACKENZIE'S HARD TASK

Confident anticipations that Sir Joseph Ward would hand in his resignation yesterday were dofeated, and tho new Cabinet has not yet been announced. Tho matter was set at Test, so far as yesterday was concerned, when the Governor loft in the morning for Dannevirko. His Excellency is to return by special train this morning, and may possibly leavo for Auckland by tho Main Trnnk express at noon. His going or not will presumably depend upon whether tho affairs of tho "Liberal" party have arrived at such a'stnge to-day as will enable tho retiring Primo Minister to hand in his resignation. Tho protracted delay in announcing tho composition of tho now Cabinet is giving rise to a good deal of remark. Five days have passed sinoe the Hon. T. Mackenzie was appointed Leader of tho "Liberal" party, but so far as any public step is concerned, tho now Ministry is as far off as over from being installed in office. The accepted explanation of this delay is that Mr. Mackenzio is meeting even greater difficulties tliun were anticipated in tho formation of a Cabinet. For three days ho has declined to bo interviewed, and lias been inaccessible in a dogrco which has added ono moro to thoso periods of filenco and anxiety which have been a prominent featuro in tho recent history of the "Liberal" party and its leaders. It was indicated yesterday that the announcement of tho now Cabinet may probably lw further postponed for a day or two. Colour is lent to this report by the fact that tho meeting sot down for yesterday morning, at which Sir Joseph Ward was to have bidden an official farewell to heads of Departments in tho Public Service, has been indefinitely postponed. Tho delay cannot well extend beyond tho end of tho current week, for already it is being asked how long a period of grace should bo granted to Mr. Mackenzie in which to form his Cabinet. A week is looked upon as a liberal allowance for this purpose, and unless Mr. Mackenzie completes his task in that period there will r.ot be Wanting people who will urge him to stand asido in favour of another leader. Tho plight of the "Liberals" has given riso to some interesting speculations. If Mr. Mackenzio cannot form a Cabinet— and it is pretty plain that lie is not finding it very easy to do so—the position of his party will bo unenviable. In view of his promise to immediately resign, Sir Joseph Ward cannot go to the country as Primo Minister, and it is difficult to seo where tho "Liberals" would get another leader to replace Mr. Mackenzie. Tho most obvious solution available would E«em to bo that Sir Joseph Ward should advise the Governor to send for Mr. Massey. This course of action has been considered quite seriously by Government supporters, though very few "Liberal" members, so far is known, have as yet given any suoh heroic counsel. Suppositions apart, the delay in announcing tho new Cabinet has confirmed a Mief, already strongly held by its opponents, that tho "Liberal" paHy is incapable of producing a Ministry that will reconcile its contending units and take up a strong position in Parliament.