POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 67, 6 August 1912, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

LABOR AND LIBERAL MEMttF.KB By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargall, Last Night. Khe Southland District labor Council has passed tJie following resolution: — "That in the opinion of the council it is iaimieail to the interest* of the Labor party that any sitting Liberal member during the present Parliament be recognised as a Labor member, and tlhat it 19 desirous that such attitude be observed until next general election, When Liberals who join the Labor party will have to take their chances at the ballot with other candidates before bhey can be ireas Labor members of Parliament."

THE EGMONT SEAT. The selection of a candidate to represent the Opposition will not be made until the Hon. T. Mackenzie "visits the constituency. The Eltham Argus thinks it highly improbable that Mr, Wake will be a candidate, notwithstanding recent statements that he intended to contest the seat. Some peculiar rumors are already current regarding tlie Egmont seat (gays the Eltham Argus), and one of them is to the following effect:—The supporters of Mr. Dive are intensely indignant with the Government party for dropping him. They point out that he was loyal and true to his party while in the House, 1 and would have won his election again had he not (been opposed by a Minister 0, the Crown—the popular Tom Mackenzie, As it was, he put up a good fight for his party and on this occasion would, with his old party's support, have won easily. Therefore, io drop him in favor of Mr. C. A. Wilkinson is looked upon as the height of political ingratitude and treachery, and there are severe heartburnings in consequence. Now comes the suggestion'that Mr. Dive's old supporters are prepared to ally themselves with the Liberals and run Mr. Dive as an Opposition supporter. How much truth there is in the above 1 cannot say, but 1 have given you the gist of a letter that has been received by a prominent .member of the House of Representatives. That Mr. Dive has really ibeen dropped iu fav-or of Mr. Wilkinson appears to be undoubted, for this morning's Dominion says: "The Government candidate for Ihe seat will be Mr. C. Wilkinson, who is popular in the district, and a man of more thtin ordinary ability." The suggestion that Mr. Di\e's supporters should .ally themselves with the Liberals is certainly an ingenious political idea, and if given effect to would create some peculiar complications. The position promises to be interesting. BUDGET TO-NIGHT.

The Prime Miniser (the Hon. W. F., Massey) inform: d a Times representative that the Financial Statement, which? will contain the policy of the Government, will be delivered in the House this (Tuesday) evening. There is, of course, a good deal of expectation and interest in the announcement of the Government's proposals. A legislator who 'is qualified to speak of the Ministerial attitude on various questions remarked in conversation with a Times reporter that the policy is going to surprise a good many people, because of its liberal and progressive character. He believed there woukl be several things of particular interest to Labor members, who will have cause to rejoice at the Government's intentions in regard to current Labor questions. The speech will, it is confidently anticipated, illustrate the view that the differences of opinion which separated the Liberal and Opposition ranks in thie past few years were not of a radical mature, and it will demonstrate that "the Massey Ministry appreciates the feet ■that the people of (his Dominion are, liberal and progressive :>.t heart.

HIGH COJIMLSSTONERSHIP. Auckland, Monday. Referring to the appointment of the Hon. Tiros. Mackenzie as ITigh Commissioner, the Hon. G. Fowlds told a -re--porter that he regarded it as «a confession of political bankruptcy on the part of the Prime Minister and his party that they had not a man within their own ranks capable of undertaking the position of' Hi<Vh 'Commissioner. Thai question. he says, very naturally arises as to whether the appointment has been made tywiuse .of special fitness for the office, or in the hope of getting two additional votes for the Government by » change in the representation of Egmont. Those who knew Mr. Massey's opinion, of Mr., Mackenzie would have no difficulty in coming to a definite conclusion on thip aspect of the situation, ancl*, to> his mind, it was" a vety' good fctarf for the Reform Ministry.

It is not known yet when the Hoij. T. Mackenzie, the new High Gonjinissibher, will return from the south, but it is understood that it wiJl take him ,a fortnight, and probaWy three- weeks, to ut) ihis bjisipej?s affairs, itnd get veaif (for his departure 1 jtgi, London (says' tJfe dominion). Unfortunately, there, is illness at present in Mr. Mackefizie'n family. Although it is not of a imrticulairlv serious nature, still in itself it ift sufficient to delay Bis departure even if he were otherwise ready to leave New Zealand.