The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1912. GAINING THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 229, 26 March 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1912. GAINING THE PEOPLE'S CONFIDENCE.

[ The suggestion that the selection of the Hon. T. Mackenzie as Premier is merely a temporary arrangement las "been made, but whether the arrangement ia temporary or as permanent as politics will allow, depends entirely on the leader himself. The political prophets are quite unable to decide whether or not Mr Mackenzie will be able to hold the party, for he is an untried leader. In our view, Mr. Mackenzie may succeed in gaining and maintaining his place because of his unquestioned enthusiasm and strength. A leader whose conception of his position induces him to apply his skill, knowledge and energy to the great problem of adequate land settlement is a leader who should be welcomed. Of course, it has been suggested that although Sir Joseph Ward is retiring from the Ministry, he will still wield the largest influence in the House. His political experience may be of infinite service to Mr. Mackenzie, but we mia-read Mr. Mackenzie if he is not leader in fact ae well as in name. The fact that Mr. Mackenzie is a Taranaki member is of immense provincial interest, and Taranaki has much reason for congratulation. It is not inferred that because Mr. Mackenzie is a Taranaki meuiber that he will seek to advance Taranaki interests in excess of the interests of other provinces, but it certainly is inferred that the new leader, apart from his leadership, is the type of man who can do Taranaki the most good. Many circumstances point to the fact that Mr. Mackenzie's special aptitude is recognised throughout the country. When lie was not sure, owing to the new delineation of boundaries, whether he would get back into the House, the people of three distinct electorates invited him to contest a seat. The extraordinary majority by which the new leader obtained the leadership is one of the best indications that the party regards him with every confidence. If both party and people i have confidence in his ability to lead, hu may easily be something more than a stop-gap. Quite naturally there is much soreness in many directions at tlie great change—for a great change it certainly is. The promise that the party will stick to the programme outlined by Sir Joseph Ward may be possible of fulfilment. but there is the consideration that three of the old Ministry, Sir James Carroll. Messrs. Tt. McKenzie and Millar, will resign, and this may certainly alter all that. The new Ministry must necessarily be composed of men having extremely diverse views. ]( is Mr. T. Mackenzie's great task to handle a team that may be refractory with strength and aplomb. It is certainly his business to be the leader and not the led, the originator and not the copyist, the author and not I he plagiarist. He is fitted by nature for origination. He has sound and progressive views on the land questiou, his

ideal being a well-settled country. Without adequate land settlement, absolute. concentration on this, the most important matter to be considered, the community cannot progress. We do not expect from Mr. Mackenzie so much of the "new broom" kind of progress as a sane, canny, quiet conduct of the country's business. It would be comforting to New Zealand to have fewer political fireworks, less self-advertisement, more concentration on the people's business, as distinct from the business of party advancement. The strong man whose efforts are directed to the big things by which the country may be happy and fruitful, who has the courage of his convictions and who lowers his flag to no political opponent can retain the confidence of the people of New Zealand. Having obtained the confidence of the people, the confidence of a party whom the people send to Parliament followi as a natural sequence.