PLACE AND POWER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 6

PLACE AND POWER.

MINISTERS AND ASPIRANTS. There is still nothing definite to report regarding the intentions of ,Sir John and tho lion. T. Mackenzie in connection with their candidature at the general elections. Gos-sip among Parliamentarians seems to have now decided that the Hon. T. Mackenzie will bo the next High Commissioner. It is generally understood that he would be quite agreeabio to withdraw from the turmoil of party politics to the comparative calm and •security of the British markets and social gatherings. The reconstruction of tho Ministry in August. 1006, admitted both tho Hon. J. A. Millar and the Hon. G. Fowlds to Cabinet rank, so that in addition to their. long record of service to the Government they have administered important Departments of Stale for, five years. It is only within the latter period that the lion. T. Mackenzie has been associated with tho Government party, and liis elevation to the Ministry dates from January, 1009, while his appointment as a full-rank Minister of tho Crown was mado only twenty months ago.' Tho suggestion that Mr. Miliar might take the "position is still in the air. He is frankly- despairing of any peaeo of mind as long a.s ho is burdened with the management, of the railways, and while it is unlikely that he would retire from public life, tho supposition that ho would bo willing to follow Sir "William HallJones is "accept-cd as probable by somo of the members. Another name mentioned in this connection is that of the Minister for Education, but it is thought that ho would prefer to continuo his career within the Dominion, with ambitions, no doubt, towards the position now occupied by Sir Joseph Ward. Tho entry of Sir John Findlay into tho popular political arena will complicate an already involved position. Within tho Government ranks are a number of aspirants to place and power, and they regard the possibility of Sir John Findlay's success in December with disfavour, if not with alarm. Some, of them say that, in the event of Sir Joseph Ward's retirement, or of any disruption in the party, tlra retiring Leader of the Council would undoubtedly be a candidate for tho i highest offico in tho Dominion.