THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1912. OPENING OF THE SESSION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10670, 27 June 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1912. OPENING OF THE SESSION.

To-day will see the opening of a sesIsion of the New Zealand Parili'ament 3n which greater interest is imanilfesIted than. An any seesicin since Sir 'Harry Atkinsoii was defeated a'nd the .late Mr Ballawce came l into power. The Mackenzie Ministry has occupied the benches 1 .under sufferance for the last four months. The Boh. T. Mackenzie was selected to lead the remnant® of the Liberal patty'because he, ,aind he alone, could command a temporary majority in the HoU'so. The caucus of the Liberal party at-which sie lyais appointed Prime Minister passed a resolution pledging itself to thejpolicy outlined by Sir Joseph .Ward. iMr Mackenzie was 110 sooner dri power than he called to his 1 Ministry men who held views car 'the (major questions •diametrically opposed to hi® own, and it was not long before he indicated that the policy which the caucus had adopted was not to be put into execution. Indeed!, 'he stated .frankly that he intended devoting his energies more to the perfecting of the administrative than to the introductio'n cf •progressive legislation. The .result has foesn that (members of the Liberal party feel themselves no 'longer bound to support the Ministry. The Governor's (Speech, which will Ibe delivered to-day, (will probably be so barrcta. that the 'more progressive members of the <H ! oufte will become disgusted. 'Mr | Mackenzie and his colleagues state j that they cannot iinragine any of the jiparty deserting t'hem, or breaking their .tentative pledge. But if tho Prime Minister himself has, no respect tfor, the .re,/olution 'cf his party in regard to policy, how can he expect the party to continue its 'allegiance to !iiim? There is every prospect that Vlien the division is taken at least three Ifo'll'owers of tho (jovernment will tyote with tho- Opposition. This will

moan thai; tlio iMinietry go cut of office, and Mr JMa&isoy v,*Ml be se«t v tfor. But how will Mr "Ma.sscy fare uvhe'n it come's to his turn to form a 'Miui.'etiry and feme a policy? W>til ho do any '.bettor t-lian Mr Mackenzie? •Will ho have a sufficient majority to 'enable/him to ca.rry on? These arc questions which are 'Uppermost in the thoughts of firiends of tho (Reform 'Party. There- arc a grc-.it siiun-bor of people who entertain the c.pinir/n thaib •a coalition' c'f til© moderate section® r.f tho H'o,use is th' 3 only way out of the present difficulty, and we are cursives f as strongly convinced' as ever on- this I point.