THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1022, 23 March 1912, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

SELECTING A PREMIER

CAUCUS OF LIBERAL

PARTYr

The conference of Liberal, Independent and Labour membeis of Parliament called for the purpose of selecting a leader, spent five hours discussing the position and adjourned at one o’clock on Friday morning with the question still unsettled. It was evident that the gathering had been of a harmonious] description, and some members of the party assured an interviewer that there was every prospect of a good understanding being reached after the position had been thoroughly discussed in a friendly way.

The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward)-, when approached for a statement as to the result, said : “A nice gathering, excellent feeling prevailing, and we adjourned until n o’clock in the morning.” Three out of the four Labour members (Messrs Veitch, Payne and Robertson) and Mr Atmore, ot Nelson, were among those present. Mr Hindmarsh carried out his intention of staying away from the gathering. He attended the city council meeting instead. The conference took place in the Government whip’s room at Parliament Building, and the greatest care was taken to prevent eavesdropping, messengers being placed so as to prevent the approach of strangers to the long corridor which led to the meeting place. THE NEW PREMIER. HON. T. MACKENZIE ELECTED. The caucus of the Liberal, Labour and Independant-Liberal members of the House of Representatives has chosen the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie as leader ot the party, in succession to Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph will hand his resignation of the Premiership to the Governor early next week. The decision to elect the Hon. T. Mackenzie as leader of the Progressive forces was only reached after a very long conference. Its actual proceedings extended over nine hours, and if general report be correct, the solution of the admittedly difficult problem was not reached until the last hour of yesterday afternoon’s sitting.

The impression gained when the conference rose for luncheon was that as there was practically a dead lock—though quite an amicable feeliug prevailed —the two candidates who had so evenly divided the gathering (the Hon. J. A. Millar and Hon. T. Mackenzie) should withdraw in favour of another member. However, this solution aid not work, as the voting on the final ballot after Mr Millar’s retirement indicated.

Sir Joseph Ward will, of course, retain the Prime Minister’s position until his successor is ready to present himself and his Cabinet to the Governor. This cannot take place until Monday or Tuesday.

“ I must give sufficient lime to Mr Mackenzie to decide who will form his new administration,” remarked Sir Joseph Ward to a New Zealand Times representative last night. “ When Mr Mackenzie is ready I will tender my resignauation to the Governor. I hope he may be in a position to do that on Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. Then I shall tender my resignation and make a statement to the country.”

Interviewed after the caucus Sir Joseph Ward said that one of the resolution:: carried was :—‘ That this party unanimously reaffirms the policy iuJicated in the Governor’s Speech ot last session.’ He also said that the party, after full consideration, took a vote upon the question of leadership, and Mr Mackenzie was elected by a majority of 22 to 9. Mr Laurenson being the member who obtained the latter number.”

THE LABOUR VIEW

“A WORKING ALLIANCE.”

On being consulted last evening as to the position of Labour in respect to the new Leader of the Government (the Hon. T. MacKenzie), Mr J. Robertson M.P. lor Otaki, stated that as far as they were concerned the recent gathering was not regarded as a caucus, but as a conference of parties, and they the Labour members—allowed that for the present the arrangement could be regarded as a working alliance, based on the policy outlined in the Governor’s Speech. Their vole must not be regarded as an individual pledge to the Liberal party. They still retained their identity as a Labour party. Anyhow, it was only the election of a leader, and they still retained their independence to vote on measures as they and their (Labour) party thought advisable. To a direct question as to whether any Labour representative would accept a Cabinet appointment, Mr Robertson replied that he had not discussd the matter with his collegues, and was not prepared to return a definite answer.