POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 66, 5 August 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE REFORM PARTY. ITS GROWTH. (From our own correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The presence in Wellington of some 1/0 representatives of the Reform Par.tv serves to bring prominently before the public the enormous strides that the late Oppos-ition has made of late yeara, and the strenuous endeavors that were made before that end could! be achieved It i« only a few years ago that the Seddon Government was so strong that, hacked ' up by a swollen majority, it had no hesitation m openly deriding the small band of stalwarts that had" refused to pay 'homage to the political king of the day. That king passed away, and another took his place. Still the Opposition 'was comparatively small, kit it was always confident, always insistent that it was on the right track, and that its time would soon come. It is suggested that the -then Opposition came °into its -own some little time before it was ready. However that may be, the fact remains that the Opposition of yesterday is tile Government of to-day,'and it is interesting, at the present moment, to ask why. Judging from the remarks of representative men of the present Opposition-, it appears that quite a large share of the blame for the disrupted condition of the Liberal Party -is cast upon Sir Joseph. Ward. He is blamed for having given a Dreadnought, for having accepted" a baronetcy, which was regarded as his price for the Dreadnought, and for having 'been a party to conferring a knighthood on Dr. Find-ljy, who wan never regarded by tlie party as one who was likely to be a toweir of strength in the hour of trial, however effective he might be from the 'theoretical point of view. The result is that 'the once victorious Liberal Party has sunk to a depth of das-pair that is apparent in tihe remarks of its members, and also An. their general demeanor. A few days, ago the representatives of the party controlled the destinies of the country. To-day tlie party has not sufficient strength to'eleet ft leader.

HOW THE HOX. J. A. MILLAR SEE* THINGS. Auckland, August i.. The Hon. J. A. Millar arrived in Auckland this morning, en (route to Itooorna. The member fotr Dunedin Weet is in much improved .health, and foop&i that, after undergoing treatment for another six weeks at Rotoriia, die will .be thoroughly restored l to good health. Mr, Mi Hair does not anticipate that there will bo anything of a stirring nature doing in- the House during his absence. He expects, in fact, that the remainder of the session will bo exceedingly quiet. In his opinion, no attempt will at present be made to oust the Massey Government, for it is now realised 'that if the strength of the parties was aga.ii* tested Mr. Massey would 'have a majority of twelve. The new Government will, he thinks, endeavor to get a jjood deal of more or less important legislation on to the Statute Book, but die doe.s not anticipate that any great .progress will be made during the present session. Asked bis opinion as to the Hon. Tims. Mackenzie's appointment m High Commissioner, Mr, Millar said thiat he thought Mr. Mackenzie was well fitted for tho position, and that the appointment. under the circumstances, was a satisfactory. The ex-Minister declined to discuss Ms own, future xatontion-s politically. THE EGMONT BYE-ELECTIOX, Auckland, Sadaird&y. The Hon. George Eowlda staJ»s that ho has no intention of contesting the Egmont seat at the bye-electron, but would assist a Labor candidate. He suggests Mr. Wake as the man luwinjf the best claim oil Progressive Liberals.