EXIT MR MACKENZIE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 321, 10 July 1912, Page 4

EXIT MR MACKENZIE.

MR. MASSEY TAKES CHARGE. THE PINAL SCENES. PROSPECTS OP THE FUTURE. By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter,. Wellington, Last Night. IW 7 hen the House of Representatives met this afternoon, the Hon. T. Mackenzie announced that he had tendered his resignation to His Excellency the Governor, that it bad been accepted, and thats Mr. Massey had been sent for.

Mr. Massey states that after iho announces the personnel of the new Government on Wednesday he will ask for an adjournment until about the end of the month, to give him the necessary time to formulate his policy. As to what that policy -will be, he says that he i» not likely to depart in respect from the principles be has all along enunciated, with, of course, necessary modification* and elaborations. Any policy measures introduced by the members of the outgoing Government will be carefully considered, and if it is thought advisable they will be included in the Government'# programme.

THE PERSONNEL OF THE CABINET, Mr. Massey declined to make any statement as to the personnel of the Government that he is about to form. It is, however, generally considered that a general understanding exists as to. the members who -will fill the more important portfolios. As to Mr. Hemes, it is. likely that his absence from New Zealand (he is not due from England until Wednesday, by the lonic) will necessitate Mr. Massey informing the House that he has had to leave one portfolio, vacant until be has had an opportunity; of consulting with his now absent colleague. As to the "certainties" of the 1 new Ministry, it is likely that some slight complication -will arise. Mr. J. Allen is generally regarded as the coming first lieutenant of the head of the Govern: ment, and that he will take the portfolios of Finance and Defence. It ,is. however, in regard' to the portfolio of Railways that the difficulty will occur. If Mr. Allen is to be regarded as the Prime Minister's first lieutenant he may expect to get the important portfolio, but Mr. Herries is the one member of the late Opposition who has specialised in railways, and his claims to that portfolio are pronounced. Mr. W. Eraser's claims to inclusion are also regarded as undeniable. He is looked upon as one of the most carefuly critics of either side, especially in regard to finance, and his utterances are always listened to with respect and 1 attention. Another certainty is Mr. Herdman, .while Dr. Pomare, for many years head of the Native Health Pepartment, who successfully contested the 'Western Maori seat against Mr. Kaihau, will be appointed member of the executive representing the native race. Of the other Ministers, it is understood that whoever is' appointed to the position of Leader of the Upper House will have a seat in the Cabinet, and in thin connection the claims of Mr. John Duthie and Mr. lI.'D. Bell have been prominently mentioned. Mr. R. H. Rhodes, as senior whip of the party, is regarded as another certainty, and it is also definitely stated that Mr. Fisher will achieve Ministerial rank, as Minister for Labor, The West Coast of the North Island will furnish another Minister. The claims of Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford) and Mr. Okey (Taranaki) are being canvassed in the House.

This afternoon a few flowers were put on the grave of the Parliamentary Liberal Party as the dominant legislative body. Men of the broken legion are sad figures here and there in and about th# buildings. They look leaderless and loSt. During all the morning, members whose faces plainly betrayed excitement and •wonderment were about the lobbies, and it would have been easy enough for a. Sherlock Holmes, with no knowledge of names, to read the party lines around the eyes and lips of the variou3 politicians. The Masseyites had a happy air of expectation of good things to come, and the others had the -sad consciousness of good things lost. It was a long, slow time for all impatient for the dramatic time of 2.30 to begin—the second great scene of a remarkable new drama. Soon after one o'clock some ladies, keenly curious, trooped into the gallery, and by 2.15 there was a congregation to hear the farewell words of the retiring Government. At 2.30 the room was crowded; For the last time—or second to last—Mr. Mass«y's men took their places on Mr. Speaker's left, and they were evidently well pleased. ■ Mr. Massey was not aggressively jubilant, but he was comfortably pleased. Members were in their old places, but there was only one thing t« make the new time seem like old times, and this was the grey top hat of Mr. Vigor Brown, of Napier, turned up a* usual on the top of his desk as a receptacle for loose papers.

THE END. The curious point about the end of the Mackenzie Government was the array of Departmental papers which departing Ministers insisted on laying on the table. The whole and sole desire of outgoing Ministerial heads of departments appeared to be to sing their swan song to the uttermost limit, and they elaborated into an hour what could easily have been done in fifteen mimites. All sorts of Departmental reports were tabled, as if for no other reason than to establish the fact that the outgoing Ministry had lived while it existed. The Opposition, with Mr. Massey in charge, sat tight. The chief exponents of talk on the Government side were the Hon. A. M. Myers and Sir Joseph Ward, both of whom took several minutes to make ifi plain to the new Government that its financial stability depended to a considerable extent on the financial perspicuity of the outgoing Government. Shortly before 3.30 Mr. Mackenzie rose and said:! "In consequence of the vote which was come to on Saturday morning I placed! my resignation in the hands of His Excellency the Governor, and recommended him to send for Mr. Massey. I understand that Mr. Massey lias seen His Excellency, and I now move that the IIous« adjourn until the usual hour to-morrow. I do this after having consulted the leader of the Opposition." Mr. Massey: "I don't think it ia necessary to add anything to what -has already been stated. It has been indicated that His Excellency has done me the honor of sending for me, and asking me whether I would undertake the formation of a Ministry. I promised to do so, o.nd am now in communication with my friends. I hope to meet the House af 2.30 to-morrow, when the names of the new Ministry will be announced." The House then adjourned. 'i