POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 2 April 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

NEW AIINISTRY'S CHANCES, ROCKS AHEAD. A CABINET MEETING. A meeting of the new Cabinet was held yesterday afternoon, and lasted for two hours. It is understood that the business Iran-acted was important, but nothing was made public as to its nature. The Ministers ore to'■■ continue their meeting this forenoon.

The prevailing opinion in a circle "nidi wider Hum that of its opponents is that the Mackenzie .Ministry will go clown before Hie first serious onset to which it is exposed in Parliament. A belief is growing that the ltefonn party will gain, in July, the victory which just eluded their grasp during the short session. Once established, Mr. Massev and his party should have no difficulty in holding office undisturbed during' the normal term of Parliament, for it is notorious that many Government members are strongly- opposed to a dissolution, liy a great many well-informed people it is considered that events will inevitably lake the course here indicated. -Many critics are silent, pending the production of (ho Government's policy, but the belief is general that Mr. Mackenzie has an impossible task in hand, and will never make any real approach towards overcoming its difficulties."

MINISTRY THAT CANNOT LAST. Ml?. ANDERSON'S OPINION. The member for Mataura (Mr. G ,1 Anderson) rct.irned to Wellington ves'tor<ay from a lour of some weeks in "North Auckhuijl. 110 spent most of his lime in the back-blocks of the Nsanmwahia d.s.nct ami the Waiknto. Mi-: Anderson ■Slates that everywhere ho went in his recent journeyings, the prospects of this Kolorm party were considered verv brWit Asked what lie thought about [lie p'rosi pecs of the new .Ministry, Mr. Aiulcrson said that he dm nut think it would bo lair to criticise it very searchinglv until its policy had been placed belo'ro the country. Ho considered, however, that Mr. Mackenzie would have a verv hard task to hold his party toother with tho Ministry that he had slotted. 'I'o rcc-ii-cile tiro freeholders of 'his Cabinet villi leaseholders of such a pronounced type as it also contained was probably more than th« new leader coald manage. \notiier dillieult job for Mr. Mackenzie would be to rcciuciio the lanfc and influential body of Prohibition" voters in 'the country to (ho inclusion in the Cabmet of one of the largest brewers in tho Dominion. There was no doubt, however, Mr. Anderson added, that Mr. Myers was a good'business man. Vpan the whole, Mr. Anderson remarked, tliu now MinMry would be lucky if it survived the first lew weeks of tho next s<v,ieu of Parliament. The country was undoubtedly looking forward to n vigorous policy of'setllolucnt, both in (he North and .South Islands, and how this could be carried out, with satisfaction to the country, bv the present Cabinet, the member for Mutaura de:hrod himself unable to see. Mr. Anderson is to bo entertained by his supporters at a banquet in the Town Hall at Wyndham on Aoril 17. It is anticipated that the Leader of the lleform party and n number of its prominent members will attend. Mr. Anderson is to leave for the south by the Mokoia this evening. While in Wellington ho will attend lo a number, of departmental matters alVcct'iijr his district. PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

AN INDEFINITE POSITION. Mane trees are being feiled in the grounds of oW Govornmcit Houv.-, and the wcrl; of preparing foundations for the projected Parliament Buildings, is going on as rapidly, but. the new Government he.s not yet stated definitely what it intend.-; to do in regard to tho' buildin:,'. The position in fact is somewhat indefinite. Before the Ward Government went out of office it reviewed the competitive designs. Nino had been placed in order of merit by the assessor. The first lour were awarded nioii".v prizes, and became the property of the Government. The live designs coming next in order of merit were also temporarily retained by the .Government together'with some others not given a place in the merit list. All save the first four designs have, now been returned to their owners, and it is understood thai the first prize design, drawn by Mr. John Campbell (Government architect), was approved by the Ward Cabinet, with slight modifications. Thus far the Mackenzie Cabinet has made no Announcement in regard to tho building, but unless it reviews the matter shortly it will be faced by'the alternative of accepting unreservedly tho decision of tho Ward Administration cr of undoing a part of the work now in progress. Apart from the main foundations, those of internal walls are being gouo on with, and theso would have to lie altered if it were decided to modify (lie design approved by the late Administration. THE LABOUR MEMBERS. ME. I?OBERTSON INTKRVIKWKD. (By TclcßrapU.-Pre3s Association.) > Levin, April 1. Mr. Kobertson, M.P. for Otaki, interviewed hero, laughingly said he supposed ho must get into line, as he noticed all Labour members were being forced into 'print sines the new Ministry had been announced, ilo considered it certainly the most Kadical Ministry ever formed iii Now Zealand, while tho-? on the land could feel assured from the personnel of tho Cabinet that the farmers' intarests would he promoted and the masses had good reason to believe that pr.ibloms such as the cost of living and the improvement of machinery for the settlement of industrial , disputes would be tackkd with f e.rne.-t----ness. On the whole the new Cabinet had as good a' chance of carrying on as any Cabinet could have in tho present state of parties. The Opposition's criticisms of Sir. Mackenzie's Cabinet would apply with oven greater force to any possible Opposition Cabinet, for of necessity such a combination must comprise untried men. Mr. Kobertson did not think it advisable that Labour should havo a. seat in the Cabinet this time. Concluding, he said he had seen an interview with Mr. Payne, M.P.. telegraphed from Napier regarding Mr. Payne's determination to vote against the Mackenzie Cabinet and support Mr. Massey conditional on Labour being given Ministerial representation. Mr. I'obertson doubled the statement, lie said from what ho knew of Mr. Payne's views he was inclined to think Mr. Payne had been misrepresented.

THE HON. A. W. MYERS. (By TclcKi-apli.-PrcEs Association.} Auckland, .April 1. The elevation nf the Hoi). .A. 51. Myers t.i Cabinet rank, with the pnrtfolioi nt' finance, Kaihvays, anil Defence, has resulted in a widespread movement in Auckland (o do honour In Hip new llinistcr ■■linn his return in a. few days from AVollinglon. Tt is probable a Hen-party recep)ion will be held in the Tnwn Hall. < THE NEW POSTMASTER-GENERAL. Air. If. (.1. Kll bid a Dominion- reporter last evening (hat ho had received a telegram from (lie. Prima Alinislor intimaliiiß that he had been appointed PostmasterGeneral. Air. Kll declined In supplement this, bare statement nf the lact ov to comment in any way upon his appointment.