THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 449, 20 March 1912, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The return of Sir Joseph Ward to Wellnigton on Saturday evening, and the fact inat Liberals, Labour and Independent members meet this Week to take part, in the formation of a new Cabinet, hup revived interest in B question which has been agitating the pub I n' mini! for some time paßt. The parties will meet at 8 o'clock on Thursday night next, when Sir ,]o:< i li Ward will finally announce his decision in ri'tire. It will then be for She combined parties to select hifl SUCC(: ; or. That will not be an easy task. So many issues and personal and provincial claims and considerations are involved that it is impossible to do anything more than hint a possibilities. In regard to the leadership of the party, three names Btand out prominently. the. Hon. J. A. Millar, !be 11 on. T. Mackenzie, and Mr W. !>. s. Mac-Donald, North Island whip mid member for the Bay of Plenty. As to the personnel of the Cabinet, (he only certainly appears to be that (he lion. A. T. Ngata may, if he chooses, retain the position of member of the Executive representing the Native race. Beyond that the position ia very complicated, and the problem can only be solved by the members of the parties in conferonce. Probably the solution will not be arrived at until after protracted sittings, the number of claimants being considerably in excess of the number of portfolios to bo filled.