PIRATED EN BLOC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 29 April 1912, Page 4

PIRATED EN BLOC.

fTHE XEW MACKENZIE VOLICY. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, April 22. It is extraordinary, says the "Jler» aid," referring to the vis-it oT Cabinet Ministers to Auckland, that the- overthrow of the Ward Administration should have been effected by Mr. Mackenzie and his colleagues, and that they should pea their hopes ol retaining oilice upon effecting tlio very reforms which have becu clamoured for by their critics and opponents. Those who have followed the strenuous contest which has been so long waged, between a great Parliamentary majority and n small but undaunted Parliamentary minority, mid which has result, oil in the practical elimination of that great majority, and in the cashiering of the Ministers who brought their party to (ho verge of defeat, may well be astonished at the wholesale adoption of the liel'oi'in policy by the Mackenzie Cabinet, Had they completed the strategic manoeuvre by adopting Mr. Massey also, and pressing him to accept a portfolio, they would have- been logical and consistent. Much ot* Mr. Mackenzie's speech on Thursday night might have been mistaken for portions of Mr. Massey's utterances at thu last general election. The policy of Mr. Mackenzie is no more akin to the policy outlined in Sir Joseph Ward's last desperate manifesto known, as "(he Governor's Speech" than it is to the policy of (he iirst Chinese President. It may be. difficult for the Opposition to deal with when Parliament reopens, for it is the Reform programme, edited and revised by an old member of the party, Unless we are mistaken, it will arouse ' more antagonism within the.Government ranks than outside (hem, unless, indeed, it was n delusion to suppose Unit 'lie policy of the Wards mid the Cm-rolls, the Millars, and the M'Konzios, had an influential backing. On the face of thing?, it is incongruous and absurd, as well as adverse to the best interests of the country, that statesmen so sympathetic in matters political should occupy, at the iTOscnt moment, the positions of Prime Minister' and of Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Mackenzie and his coljcasiws, including the Minister for Hailwvys. mi.f, have seized upon these planks n l ' pn.-iVj , ' without appreciating their import, li very evident that Mr. Mackenzie ruinel: expect to carry out his Ui<>, help of those members of tlie \ito Cn!-'.)>'t whose policy he tacitly, but ino«l emphatically condemns. Tt would he iatcrwtiitf to know what Mr. Mackenzie oxpeef*. Ann from what pnrl of Hie House h> looks for support if he ronll.r 'Icterminnl in stand or fall upon found administrates mid cautious iczWntinn.