The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1912. THE NEW PREMIER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 74, 23 March 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1912. THE NEW PREMIER.

Tliut the choice of the Liberal Party in the present emergency has fallen upon the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie is, we think; a wise step from a party standpoint, and if that Party cannot carry on with the Hon. Mr Mackenzie as Premier it cannot carry on at all. Throughout the Dominion Mr Mackenzie 'is yvell-known, esteemed,, and liked: he is a man of independent and moderate views, arid on'the land question he hap always been a prominent freeholder. jin Taranaki he has sue-, ceeded in gaining the good opinion tf all with whom he has come in contact, quite'* apart from party politics, and he is also the Member for Egmont. We certainly congratulate the Party on its choice of a Leader, and the Hon Mr Mackenzie on the honour accorded him, but at the same time we recognise that he has no easy task before him. There are very many points to be carefully considered, and a mistake at this juncture may easily make another election imperative. The first big difficulty the new Premier has to surmount will be the selection of his colleagues, and with so many aspirants to Cabinet rank in the field the choice will be a difficult one to make. Length of service and party loyalty always count, but they must not necessarily bo paramount factors in forming the new Ministry. Of course the choice of his colleagues rests constitutionally with the Premier, but it is more than probable that the caucus would give some strong indication of its views as to who should be taken and who should bo loft, and Mr Mackenzie 1 may bo guided to some extant by this expression. It is freely stated that the Canterbury members are strong claimants for office, and that Messrs Davey, Ell, Laurenson, Witty and Eorbes are all desirous of Ministerial rank. Able and broadminded men are more than ever needed at this very critical time in the history of Party Government in New Zealand.