The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 3, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1799, 3 July 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 3, 1906.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. It is difficult to arrive at any con] elusion regarding the outcome of thd condition of political chaos that now

exists at the seat of (government. One thing is certain, however, that no real attempt at Cabinet reconstruction will be made until the return of Sir Joseph Ward. His task is no easy one the best friends of the Liberal party admit, and there is a general feeling in the ranks of the Government supporters that the future presents very many difficulties. Those who are most optimistic recall the fact tha.t during the absence of 3Jr Seddon at the coronation celebrations in London Sir Joseph Ward got through the work of one session so well, so expeditiously, and so pleasantly that he came in for the highest praise from both sides of the House. But those who are acquainted with the true position of affairs know that there existed peculiar circumstances which landed to m’ke the task of the Acting-Premier £ois- - an easy im\ In the fir# place, the more contioversial topics were avoided, Sir Joseph manifested a disposition to consult the con-

■ , '?ence, not-rm,' v me- hist, own party, •*—l. AtJCKT;in the

prosecution ol absolutely necessary business, and bo was mot in an equally I cordial spirit by Mr Massoy. There was a general disposition to let it bo mado apparent to Parliament and to tho colony, and most especially to Mr Soddon, that the business of tho Houso could bo transacted much moro expeditiously undor the Buavo rule of Sir Joseph than undor tho impulse of his chief’s “ hob-nailod ” boots. With tho assumption of tho Premiership it is quostionablo whether Sir Josoph Ward will bo ablo to hoop the Government team in hand. And, whether ho assumes tho “ liob/nailod boots ” or retains the suavitor in modo he is sure to find rocks ahead. Tho first danger , lies in tho reconstruction of tho Cabinet, and tho cleverest of political tipsters admit themselves at soa in attempting to solve the problem. There are not only the weak members of the presont Ministry to bo got rid of, but their successors have tobo chosen from a host of aspirants to ministerial rank. llow to mako a good choico and how to placate tho disappointed ones is a problem probably greater than any New Zealand Promier has yet had to face. The inevitable outcome appears to be a well-defined split in the Liberal-Labor party, and had Mr Massey a somewhat larger following it takes no prophet to see that the chances of the Opposition would assume a hopeful character. . With division in the ranks of the Liberals almost any combination is possible. Mr Massey has a small but compact party, which will largely benefit by defections from the Government ranks, and it is hard to say what may or may not take place between now and the end of the present Parliament. The probability is that Sir Joseph Ward will have his hands full keeping his team in control. Little or prac-* tically nothing of real importance will be done this year, and when great policy questions have to be tackled there will most likely be developments of a very vital nature. Sir Joseph Ward may steer through the rocks and quicksands of the present Parliament, but he has then to go before the electors for their verdict, and without the doughty champion Seddon at his back, with the magnetic influences of the departed statesmen withdrawn, it will be a bold man who would dare to prophesy the result with any feeling of genuine confidence.