MR. MILLAR SPEAKS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1437, 11 May 1912, Page 4

MR. MILLAR SPEAKS.

A good many people have been speculating • as to the probable attitude of Me. Hii,ur m connection with the situation which has developed in the politics of the country. Mn Millar, it has-been surmised "for some time past, has not, been in complete agreement, with a section of the party to which he has belonged. Ho is a man of strong views, and early in his career as a member of the VVajid Administration he fell foul of his political chief by laying down the policy as Minister for Railways ' that the railways of the country | should, bo made to pay their wav Sin Joseph Ward, it will probably be recalled, had held the view that it was quite sufficient tlmt tl'inv should pay :? per cent., leaving tl>e ' taxpayers of the country to make up i the balance. The difference on that ' occasion was patched up, but mor" ' than once since then there have been '' whispers of disagreement. When the ! Mackenzie Government came into < office on the forced retirement of Sir < Joseph Ward it was widely recognis- ' ed that there was good reason to be- , licvo that Hit. MU.M.H upd qtdnr ] rumiiboxn of the piuty, wcuJUi be cua« (

I satisfied with the rearrangement made, and that it was practically certain thnt it would not command their confidence and support. This view was strengthened when Mr. MIIAIAH consulted his supporters, and as a result was given a free hand ias to the course he should pursue when Parliament mot. The interview with the member for Duneclin West which the Press Association supplies this morning may be taken to indicate what that course will be. Mr. Millar in effect pronounces the doom of the Mackenzie Government. He regards the defeat of the Government as certain, and, in the circumstances, his opinion is a weighty one. Eso far as the constitutional position is concerned, this is stated clearly and accurately by Mr. Millar. The talk about dissolution following on the defeat of the Government which some of the friends of the Government are indulging in is so much nonsense. Until tho possibilities are exhausted of securing in the present House h Ministry with a majority there can be no dissolution. The defeat of the Mackenzie Ministry will mean that Mn. Massey will be sent for, and it will then depend on the support extended to him whether or not there will bo a dissolution. Mr. Millar is probably correct in estimating that the present Parliament will run its full term of three years. He bases his opinion, no doubt, on the fact that those who in the past have voted with the Liberal party, but who will now vote to throw tho makeshift Mackenzie Government one of office, while not perhaps in agreement with.the Reform party on all points, have so much in common with them that they prefer the prospect of stable ( government under them than thp unpleasant possibilities involved in the clinging to office of so ill-assorted a set of politicians as at present constitutes the Macsen- ' ZIE Ministry. Tho feeling of the country also runs in this 'direction, and the sooner the change occurs the better the bulk of the people will be pleased.