The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1912. PARTY V. PEOPLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1476, 26 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1912. PARTY V. PEOPLE.

The Mackenzie Ministry will face Parliament for the first time to-mor-row afternoon, but it will not be under fire until the following day, when an Imprest Supply Bill will no doubt afford opportunity for some sharp skirmishing. Ministers appear to realise that they do not possess the confidence of the House of Representatives; that there are many on the side of the House from which the Ministry has sprung who regard it as undeserving of their support and a menace to sound government. Some of these members are said to be determined to displace the present Ministry whatever happens, and having done so will then lie guided by circumstances as to their future course of action. We noted recently that the members of the Ministry have been professing to be very indignant and much shocked at the suggestion that anyone who had attended the party caucus in March would break their alleged "pledges." On that occasiou we pointsd ont that it every member present at the caucus at which Mii. Mackenzie was elected Prime Minister voted for the Government he has since formed, it would still be in a minority in Parliament. We commented also on the unsoundness of the attitude of Ministers iu pretending to believe that any mem)er of Parliament has the right to "pledge" himself to anyone but his constituents. It would now seem that the "pledge" alleged to have been given at the caucus was not actually jiven at all. What happened appears to be that someone suggested or proposed that those present should all endeavour to help the party out of its difficulties, and there being no dissent, it is now claimed that all stand pledged to support the Ministry under all circumstances. It is ot course utterly absurd to pretend that any "pledge , ' , of this nature, assuming that it"was made, can bind indefinitely any member. A pledge made by a candidate seeking election is quite a different matter. No scUrespecting person, in the latter case, could fail to regard it as au undertaking binding ihe rnmlidnii-, it elected, until lu ; again printed himself before his constituents. Naturally, perhaps, Ministers desire to make it appear that this alleged general understanding arrived at at a secret morting of the party lies the ■ hands of members quite as much as would a plodge to thc-iv constituents at'lnn huFtintts. H is "'f.v tn i""-'' , !-- stand that/Ministers- in theu uuajjur-

ate plight, are roricly tei scizd ; pn any ■ chance that may pi:psc:ivt itself \vhicli seems likely to asiji'st thcni.- to aVtvrt defeat, hut they will (md, -ifc tl-iflicult to pci'Riiiitlo the. cuiintry ilittt aiiycjUO. has the right to suliurtuiiido tile, interests of thi) pcnrjjfi to thfiSO: of. flio loaders of a politicial payly,. Thfvro ii not a single meinber o.E trim Umisc ot l{i'pres!mtatives : 'wn,o \v;ir elected to support the Jlackf,xx,!.k ftin-tfr'niricntf.. That is tiie outstanding fac.t of llln political situation* Thcfrc' is- nofc_ : ;i single member on tli.rt: Jiriiisle.i'iat side of the House w.lifi. fiiltsiidted: tiie caucus in March lasb..w!iU;lincw' wluit the personnel, of (her jlj.fiistry .would he, .Or /Nvlia.t.its ji.H.tic.v' would \w. And yet JEuiiiitevs tci-diiV want the country td lirffeve' thiit ai

caucus every ihiUV ittcKprit bnyftc!

himself to support the.. M;iiiiytry' whoever might be iflilided: ■ in tts ranks and wliatevev'it nright do. Can anyone believe tlia.t. party crnment has sunk ; .to. .siifeli. -depths, wl degradation in New. Zl'ii'laiVil'thitl typ whole body of members on 'this '^i)) j oral" side of the H-piisC: vydailcl bliivid--

ly commit thomselyes i : ri t!iis.,out.i;iig.eous fashion regardless: p|' iheii--- owai political .future P.V .'IhR-. interests , of

iheir coustituents- : 6,r t-he -.w.prf.sr.e of :he- country J Thc : id|a;.is- too iMepbs= .erous to warrant-'seri.oiis,: considera.:ion. Members knqw. quj'te. .-well that-.

the Mackenzie G6.vgrnmeiit:,;ilpi.s wpt.; possess the conndeii;c'iJ:.6f ejtlier the:-; House of llcpfe^p.il.tjiti-v.eH' pi; -thi; country. They kpbw: ..'tlra'fc the 'coiin* try wants a a stable that ;iiijp Reform party is : thc;.;oMy ; party Ufai; has any chance of.fining.itno. requirements of the situatip.n. .That, party,.' however, will nee)K-s|r;eiJgfflerrtig ; to bu able to carry to.. the ond of the Parliament. membiir.s. iipt now attached toj;tfieJp.a;rif w'lid mpst matters with its policy , and who will tliSt-it is in the best inteiftstsvpttho that the should be displacodj; and abler GoverrimCjiij 'iqymcii"Sypin.

the ranks of the >Bcfpi'-m.par'ty: U.ri- : . less this is clonc;tl/cre.:wjjl-;bc: a-Xur-: ther period of politicals ■ ■is certain to firoyti \ business, a development, and';gcfijrally :, cial to every sectibjjot:tJKJ::ti6.ramuiiity. ,It is a versus the tunately for tlic;^cpiinti;^;:v;ft hete;; every probabilityj|'^h?it : :a;Vs>iificieivt: number of membcr.s^.wilL.v.as.se.r.t^that

independence wl;icjr;tlro;i'res'igriii;ti.6n: of the Ward to cast their removing the Myiistry , from oflice, andwfeplacinf.:4t: : JM; (% moderato and :pro'gressiye>£rbYfcrhr;; ment having bohindll it ho if ii. 1.15'.'c ig li t oi the Reform paViyi^v:/;-v.;. '• ■,\ ■'* ;