THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1912. THE NEW PREMIER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10590, 23 March 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1912. THE NEW PREMIER.

The Liberal caucus, which lias been sitting in Wellington for the last couple of daps, has elected the' Hon. T. Mackenzie to be Loader of the Party. This means that Sir Joseph Ward will immediately re-sign, with his Ministers, and advise His Excellency the (Governor to send for Mr Mackenzie. The new Premier will then select his own Ministers. The election of the Hon. T. Mackenzie to the Leadership of the Party may be regarded as almost a death-ib low to tho Radical section of the House. Mr Mackenzie was for many years a member of the Opposition Party. A few years back he wavered. He thou became an Independent, and finally threw in his lot with the Ward Administration. As a reward for his political somersault,, he was created a Minister of the Orown. As Minister for Agriculture ho has worked hard; but it cannot be said that he has been a conspicuous success. How, as Prime Minister of the country, and probably as Minister of Lands, ho will reconcile his views on the most important question of the day, notably the laud question, with those of the Radical section of his followers, is difficult to ~ay. • On tho very last occasion that he offered himself as a candidate for Parliament, he declared himrelf an ;t'"Jeut fi-ce-

holder. Although lie has modified j his views on many questions, he has J stuck to his guns on this particular; issue. With the pressing demands of the country for a more vigorous land policy, he will be compelled to introduce legislation on this question at tho very earliest moment. What will then happen ? Will he abandon his freehold principles, or wHI he risk the defection of the Radical land national■izers in the House.? It cannot be said, by any stretch of tho imagina - tion, that Mr Mackenzie had display--led Radical tendencies in the past. He has, indeed, been less "progressive" in this direction than Sir JoiSph .Ward and most of his colleagues. How, then, can he hope to secure the cohesion of a Party of which a not inconsiderable section is clamouring for more progressive Radicalism? The outcome of the accession of Mi' Mackenzie to the Premiership may be a more speedy fusion of the • moderate sections of both parties than would have been the case under other circumstances. It was reported some months ago that Mr Mackenzie had expressed a desire for a coalition between the moderates of the two great parties. We shall now have an opportunity of seeing whether this report was, or was not, without foundation. If this report should prove correct, and the new Premier' brings about tliat fusion which appears to bo the only solution of the present political difficulty, he will deserve well of the country. In the meantime, the greatest interest will be manifested in his selection of a Cabinet. It is not improbable that, with the exception of the Hons. J. A. Millar and T. Ngata, the whole of the present Ministry will be jettisoned. Even Mr 'Millar may decline to take a subordinate position in a Mackenzie Ministry. It may be taken almost for granted that Messrs Myers, Reed, and Macdonald will be offered portfolios. This would give the North Island five members of the Cabinet, if Mr Ngata be counted. But who is to be elected from the leasehold South? Messrs Lauren son, Hanan, and Ell each consider that they have claims, and Mr Mackenzio will hardly be able to overlook them, although itfieir views on the land gyestion are diametrically opposed to those of the new Premier. Possibly, on account of his negative virtues, Mr Buddo may be retained. The Hon. T. Mackenzie ha.s a big row to hoe. His difficulties will begin with tOie selection of his colleagues. They wiD end only when, in a few months, he either call's the Reform Party to his assistance or appeals to the country.