CABINET CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 25 March 1912, Page 7

CABINET CRISIS

- p DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. AIR. MACKENZIE'S PROSPECTS. ANXIOUS LIBERALS. Although (lie "Liberal" caucus has concluded ils labours, the political world has not by any means regained ils normal calm. The advent of the now Cabinet is being awaited with a good deal of interest and excitement, and no very deep probing is needed lo discover that feeling is running high in the. minds of possible and impossible candidates for' Ministerial rank. The insecure grasp that tlio party ling on the rei 113 of oliiee has undoubtedly brought many candidates into the running whoso chances would bo negligible under normal circumstances. As an opponent of the "Liberal" party put it the other day, "when a party is strongly entrenched it sets up its strongest man as loader, and he iu turn selects his colleagues from the sound heart of the party, carefully avoiding extremists or men upon whoso loyalty lo the broad party standards any doubts have boon cast." In selecting its leader on Friday the "Liberal" party, this critic adds, passed by its strongest men, and now the new Prime Minister has to give representation on the Cabinet to each one 01' a number of opposed sections. If lie fails to make the representation complete the chances are that tlio party will lose a limb, and it cannot afford ns things stand to lose eo much as a finger. Aspirants for Honours, The tone adopted by "Liberal" mem. bers in speaking about the formation of tlio new Cabinet in itself is a significant commentary 011 the- plight into which their party has fallen. Many of them profess a vast indifference for the cares and emoluments of office, but almost any rank and file member of tlio party will admit, under gentle pressure, that if a lull mead of justice were done, a Minister would bo drawn from somewhere in the near neighbourhood of the district that ho represents.

One "Liberal" member stated on Saturday, with apparent candour, that Mr. Macdonald luul never been considered bv the caucus as a possible Priino Minister. It does not follow, however, that ho was not so regarded by one of the interested sections of tho party. There, is a prevalent idea Hint the notion was entertained of getting Mr. Maedonaid to "hold the place down' during tho temporary removal of a more prominent party ranifuate.

Sumo of tile Canterbury members make, no secret of the fact that they think their province entitled to contribute two members to the Cabinet. Tho claim is based on the view that Canterbury saved tho situation, from the Liberal standpoint, at the late election. This is probably one of the most awkward difficulties that will have to be faced by the gentleman to ■whom has been delegated tho arduous task of "Cabinet-making." Territorially, Canterbury is entitled to only one Minister, and Mr. Mackenzie has'of necessity to look ahead, in anticipation of fiitino favours and support, as well as to look back and reward favours and support conferred upon liis party in the past. Labour Divisions. The only definite thing known about the Labour party in relation to tho Ministry is that one of its members may accept a portfolio if it is offered. Mr. "Robertson did not deny, when he was questioned on Friday evening, that the question,of tho acceptance of a portfolio by Labour is an open one. He said that 'his party had not discussed tho matter, and that 'he could not say whether any of its members would accept n portfolio or not. In this matter ho is presumably in sympathy with Messrs.-Voitch and Payne." though probably not with .Mr. Hindmarsh.

Local Labour leaders who talked confidently, not many weeks ago, about the return of a united Labour pnrty of four members, have now considerably altered their note. Uno prominent unionist who was questioned on Saturday as to the composition of tho Labour pnrty in the lioiise replied without hesitation that it consisted of Mr. Hindmar.-h. Another Labour man, himself a candidate, at the late election, remarked of Messrs. Voitch, Payne, and Robertson: "They uto members of tho Liberal party now." The distinction drawn bv the three Labour members above mentioned, that the party Knfliorin* they attended was a co'.ifei'oiice, and not a caucus, was brushed aside scornfully by the local Labour men who were spoken to. There is no doubt that in official Labour circles Messrs. Veiteh, Robertson, and Payne have lost a great deal of ground, but it is only fair to add that it would be very difficult, at tho nv>imvit, to obtain what could bo justly doscrilvd as a renrowntaiive Labour opinion on the political situation. Labour is obviously at sixes and sevens.