The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1912. SIR JOSEPH WARD AGAIN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1447, 23 May 1912, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1912. SIR JOSEPH WARD AGAIN.

The public will probably derive some amusement from a, remark made by Sir J6seph Ward at a conversazione given in his honour recently at Sydney. "They arc experiencing some difficulties in New Zealand," he said, "but difficulties were made to be overcome, and if those who are there can't overcome them I'll help them to do so by and bye." Presumably the difficulties referred to relate to the unhappy position of tho Mackenzie Ministry, and seeing that Sir Joseph AVard is mainly responsible for the situation that exists it is really very funny to find him now talking about coming to the rescue. Of course the Sydney people are not very well versed in New Zealand politics, but it was somewhat risky we should imagine for the ex-Prime Minister to venture on so transparent a bluff. The public can hardly have overlooked the fact that it was mainly due to Sir Joseph AVard_ that the Liberal party came to grief at the general election,'nor that the party was only saved from instant defeat when the House met by Sir' Joseph Ward undertaking to obliterate himself as leader. And now he has the effrontery to tak about coming to the rescue of the unfortunate party ho led so ill and left so badly situated. This is really a very excellent sample of the class of bluff which has characterised the whole political career of the ox-Prime Minister. Underlying it, of course, is a definite purpose. Primarily he desires to convey the impression abroad that he is still the dominant factor in New Zealand politics; and secondarily he still hopes for a mixing up of parties which will give him an opportunity to push himself into prominence again. A good many people came to the conclusion some time ago that the slight placed upon the Hon. J. A. Millar at the Liberal caucus was part of a pre-arrang-ed plan. Mr. Millar is not a pliable man ordinarily, he is indeed a very stubborn and determined man when .he makes up his mind about a thing • and had he been chosen as Prime Minister instead of Mr. Mackenzie, Sir Joseph Ward would have fallen completely into the background. But with Mi;. Mackenzie Prime Minister, the position is somewhat different, and rightly or wrongly the opinion is very generally held' that Sir Joseph Ward will 'remain the power behind the throne while the present Ministry lasts.

Ministers apparently realise this, for it has been very noticeable of late that they seize on every opportunity to extol the virtues of their late leader and to, figuratively speakin". bestow on him a highlycoloured political cert ideal c of character. Possibly Lliis is intended in part as a justification of their previous support of the ex-Prime Minister; but the view is gaining ground that there is a deeper purpose behind it and one not unassociated Tnth the nmbiticmi of Sip. Joseph Wash, during its brief and uu^

Suspiring existence, tiic Mackenzie Government has, perhaps unconsciously, played no small part in exposing the late Ward Government as the sham it really was. Taking for instance the Civil Service: the Mackenzie Government has admitted outright the truth of the contention of the critics of the Ward Government as to the necessity <if Civil Service reform. N'o one who has followed political matters at all closely can fail to recall the violence with which any suggestion that reform was called for, was resented by the Wardists when Sir; Joseph Ward held office. So also with the votes of public money for expenditure on roads and bridges. The new Minister for Internal Affairs now condemns the past methods of his predecessors in office, and brings forward a suggestion somewhat on the lines of that proposed by the critics of the lute Government. And in other directions _ also the new Government has arrived at decisions which in effect condemn the administration of the Ward Ministry. These actions of l,he Mackenzie Ministry may seem at variance with its eulogies of Sin Joseph Ward, but the contradiction may be explained by the fact that the admissions made of the necessity for reforms which were resisted by the late Prime Minister have been largely the result of panic, the outcome of a growing recognition that the public is tired of being fooled and is determined to have a change. Sir Joseph Ward may not like the behaviour of his protcyrs in this respect, but he will probably recognise their pitiable position and derive some consolation from their extreme anxiet.y to placate him as disclosed by their public addresses. But what the public would like to know and what it is entitled to know is, whether Sir Joseph Ward intends to neglect his duties as the representative of this country on the Imperial Commission in order to serve his own political ambitions here 1 If he docs not wish to serve on the Commission, no one can offer the least objection, although it will be generally conceded tha>he should never have accepted the position unless he_ intended to carry out the duties it involved. But if he does propose to hold the office it is manifestly improper that he should absent himself from, or in any way delay the work of the Commission. We can quite believe that ho finds himself torn by conflicting emotions: he still clings to the hope that "something may turn up" which will assist him to the front again in the politics of the country; but he fears that such will not bo the case and so dares not relinquish the position on the Imperial Commission in case by so doing he should lose all. We suspect that ho will meet with very little sympathy from the public in the position in which he has chosen to place himself. He has had a very long innings politically and has received higher rewards and favours than any other public man in this country has ever attained. It is quite time that he realised this.