THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8165, 23 June 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1906.

The political situation at the present time is certainly one of great intereat, and it is possibly oreating wider and more general interest than has been evinced on any occasion for some years past. The new Premier (Hon. W. Hall-Jones), it seems to be f generally considered, will only hold the reins of office until his distinguished colleague, Sir Joseph Ward, returns to this colony, and that then he will resign, praotioally, in the latter's favour. The statement made to the press for publication by Mr Hall-Jones leaves little room to doubt but that is his present intention. In the conrse of that statement Mr Hall-Joaea said: "The position is that Sir Joseph Ward,

who, in tbe ordinary course, would have been sent: for, is out of tbe colony. In bis absei.je, there mast: he a Premier. I believe the people of New Zealand have confidence in my dtßire and resolve to do that which is In accordance with their wißhea and the dictates of my own honour." It may, perhaps, be a matter for the expression of some degree of surprise that Mr HallJonea waa not more explicit as to his intention, but it is not usual for the Cabinet to take the public holus bolus into their confidence in matters relating strictly to the Cabinet. There are always what are known as "Cabinet secrets," and they Appear to be an entirely necessary part of statecraft- Moreover, it would scarcely bo in the interests of either Sir Joseph Ward or of Mr Hall-Junes himaelf were he to announce, if suoh is his intention that he intends to resign when Sir Joseph appears upon the scene. To do so would be to merely strengthen the hands of those who will be in opposition to the new Premier. While the position is one of some doubt and uncertainty it is naturally somewhat unsatisfactory, if not a little bewildering, to the Opposition and those members on the Government side who desire the reconstruction of the Cabinet and various other things. It is evident that Mr Hall-Jones intends that the present situation shall be somewhat mystifying, and in doing this, in our opinion, he is indulging in a little statecraft, which his long Parliamentary experience, no doubt, enables him to do with the greatest ease.