INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11748, 24 November 1903, Page 8

INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL MEMBERS.

MR T. E. TAYLOR PREDICTS A NEW MINISTRY. "Is tbe Premier's power waning, as shown by the session just ended?" was the question put by a representative of "The Press'" to two local members yesterday morning. Mr T. E. Taylor replied that he thought there was no doubt that the Premier's influence was decreasing. He thought that waa the impression of all The Government men, except two or three, as far as he knew their opinions. Mr Seddon seemed to have entirely lost his control over the House, and not only had his manner of conducting the business of the country irritated even bis own followers, but some of his legislative proposals were so obviously designed to further his own intere_t_ sod ambitions as to have provoked rebellion on the part of several of hia ntrongest supporters. His Preferential Trade Bill, » far as the schedule* were concerned, displayed so little diacrimination that many members regarded that measure, and tbe item of £15,000 on tlie Supplementary Estimate* which he practically pledged the country to pay while he was attending the Premiers' Conference in England, as bids on Mr Seddon's port for a position on some form of Imperial Council, the creation of which had been suggested by Mr Cbamber-

lain in England, and the' Premier her& There was a growing feeling, which had been frequently; expres_ed among memberduring the session, that Mr Seddon wai using the Legisiatore of the country and the executive power for the purpose of furthering his personal ambition i» this manner. Mr George Fowlds, who was a thorough-paced Radical, and a man of the strongest Liberal conviction* in politics, had declared in Auckland the week before last, in answer to a question put to him by the "New Zealand Herald." that he was satisfied the time had arrived when tlie Liberal pertJ should select a new leader. _Tie Premiere open espousal of the financial interest* of the liquor party, as evidenced by hie Lioenning Bill, had permanently lessened his power. The Prohibitionist- were completely estranged, and the liquor party were keenly disappointed at Mr Seddon's inability to redeem his promises, and the very "large section of people who were very moderate in their views on this* question, and who strove to maintain a fair, if not neutral, position, were almost as much shocked as were the extremist- at the nature of the Premier's

proposal* The Premier's greed was also much in evidence in the appointment of his son to a position in the Public Sesvice, whieii involved the country in an expense of probably not lees than £400 a year. Notfung that Captain Seddon had performed here or in South Africa could justify that appointment. With thousands of beys and girls in. New Zealand qualified for4he Public Service by passing the Civil Service examinations, he considered it a scandal that, the Premier should have given this appointment to his son, who had never passed tlie examinations in question. The Premier's plea for this action waa a cruel one, when it was remembered that the great majority of voters in this country had to maintain themselves and their families, and obtain what recreation they could out of an income not exceeding £_00 a year, as compared with nearly £3000 which the Premier drew in one way and another in his present position. Whatever the Opposition might do in approaching the public during the next year, Mr Taylor stated, the progressive section of the Liberal PartJ. would undoubtedly make some effort to get into touch with the electors of the colony, from various public platforms, as they felt that a change in the Ministry was inevitable. »

"Personally," Mr Taylor added, "I believe that next session, will see a new Ministry in power* —possibly a coalition. Failing that, I think it highly probable that there will bo a general election."