POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 200, 21 February 1912, Page 8

POLITICAL.

"STRONG CARD IN A DESPERATE GAME." Christchurch, January 19. The Lyttelton Times deplores the absence from the Governor's speech of a bold, definite proposal for radical reform of the electoral law. "This," it says, "is the strong card that might have been played in what is admitted a rather desperdte game." It favors proportional representation for the House, and the conversion of the Council' into arevisory chamber without permanent power of "veto..

WHAT A LOBBYITE THINKS. ; WHO WILL BE PRIME MINISTER? MR. MACKENZIE MENTIONED. A country press representative has furnished the following forecast to the Wairarapa Daily Times:—There are distinct ; possibilities of an alliance between the Liberal and Labor parties, and the only argument against such a possibility is the absence of a leader. , There appears to be .a general but well-founded id' \broad that neither Sir Joseph Y\'- " aor the Hon. J. A. Millar is desir of assuming the leadership. If sue!: .'. leader does not arise victory must rest with Mr. Massey, who will be at the mercy of a very large section of the House, including the Labor and Independent members, who in combination could easily prevent the passage of any proposal that he might bring forward. It is in fact a matter of common rumour that the greatness thrust upon Mr. Massey was, not altogether welcomed. He and his party hoped to gain the Treasury benches in two decisive steps, the first being a distinct accession of strength at the last elections to be followed by a final coup at the next elections. Now they have achieved only a partial victory, and their forces are not m order. Against that must, of course, be pat the fact that Mr. Massey and his followers are confident not only of the result of the first, but the second division, and that the general body of members are not likely to take any step which will lead to the possibility of another election before Parliament has run its full course, and Government, Opposition, Independent and Labor aro all concerned to keep their seats for three years, and in spite of its unpreparedness, the Reform Party is evidently relying on that feeling to enable it to retain "possession of the Treasury benches for a reasonable period. During his electoral campaign last summer Hon. J. A. Millar declared his ambition that he would come out as a leader if the opportunity offered. 'The party, as a whole, however, has apparent--7 , elin »nated him from the possibilities, and has turned its eyes in other directions, [t looks, it is said, to Hon. T. Mackenzie in the hope that the putting forward of a leader may serve the purpose of consolidating the forces of the Liberals and Laborites and give a fresh I lease of life to the party which ha* been in office so many yeari.