PRESS OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1402, 30 March 1912, Page 8

PRESS OPINIONS.

"THIS MAKE-BELIEVE MINISTRY;" ; ; HUMOROUS ASPECTS.' , ..' (By, Telcerauh—Prßfij Association.*, ' ~- ■> ChHstehurch' l ":Slirc}i-.29. , «.. The Christchurch "Press" says:—Most >f the selections have their humorous ispect, but the cream of the joke is to :omo. Sir Joseph Ward, the best Post-naster-General New Zealand has ever had, 's to be succeeded in his portfolio by Mr. f. Colvin,-an amiable, but rather obtuse, )ld gentleman from the West Coast, who it present .occupies the position of Chairnan of-Committees. We imagine that his lnexpectcd appointment is due partly to die necessity of placating the West Coast, Particularly in view of- the extrusion :of \h: Roderick M'Kcnzie, and partly to nako room in tho Cliairmauship of Cornnittoes for some member of the pirty dis-ippointed-bf a, portfolio, possibly Mr. T. i. Davey. Another humorous exploit onsists in appointing Dr. Buck, Te Rangiliroa as ho prefers lo will himself, a. ;ood-natur«d youiii; Maori doctor, not mly to be .Minister in Charge if the. Cook Islands, but.;,also s Minister '-iii.:' Charge of ; the'.'G.bv--rnnicnt Insurance and Public Trust Delartments. We should say that one. might a well have selected a young Melanbsian urate as head of an important shipping .rm. Mr. H. G. El} and Mr. T. Buxton avo to content themselves with unpaid ibsitions as members of. the Executive louncil... One paid .portfolio is left uiir. .lied, 'but, whether this' is reserved for (r. Wilford,'or is to be kept dangling in he hope of attracting some wanderer rom the' Opposition ; fold, or is for a ■ader.inthc Council, we have no means ["knowing. Wp do not think it necesiry to criticis?seriously.the constitution, f this'make-believo ?liinsti'y at'.this jmj<£i lire. .'We do riot'believe" for. one. moment'i ; can'stand, and wo hold more firmly. iian ever" that Parliament ought to bo llled t6gethor.-without, unnecessary delay i'order."that Hie matter may be tested, i'e se"ft;it is slated, that Sir Wm. Hallones has Lccu asked to retain the office f HighX'oiHmissioner until May, in order lat tho new Ministry may decide whom > aDpoint. Wo are' emphatically of binfoii, that this important post should bt be"filled except by a Ministry in whom 'lariliamsnt has expressly declared its mfiden'ce. "- ;'.. i''••' "Stellenbosched."' The-"Press" aisb states:—The policy of' 10 "clean .slate," as applied,to, the Ward, Ministry : by-, itj;erstwhile' supporters/;■;< is; irely the severest condemnation ever' etcd out to any Cabinet. ■ Their own supjrters thought so little of their adminisation that they loudly insisted on the collision of every one of them except Mr. lackenzio fro.n Ministerial, office in'tho. >w Parliament. They will probably go >wn to history 'as 'the "stellenbosched' inistry"—degraded by their friends, it beaten in 'Honourable- warfare r their foes." And it is for this result :at Sir Joseph-Ward and his colleagues ive intrigued and schomed and amiliated themselves ■ by -clinging a semblance of power in a ay that no self-respecting Ministers ive ever dreamed of doing. Was >t really srth it? Is it not better to meet your es like a man, even if it means defeat, an to be "stclMnboschcd" like a coward? "in Fear and Trembling." The ' "Lyttelton Times" Bays:—The inistry at least has tho merit of being lew,".'not merely in' name.' It can be cused neither or "Seddonism" nor of Vardism." It is free from the old tradims, and it ought to bo safo from the I accusations. With "a clean slate" on lich to write a fresh chapter in the' litical history of the country, its buo--SS, its existence, will depend very largeupon thd us« it makes of the oppornities it will have between this and the »oting of Parliament, and the friends of ogres 3, even if in fear and trembling, ay hope that it will prove equal to the eat trust it haa undertaken by realising e high aspirations to which it haa cceeded. . • . . . "A Stop Gap." tlio Christohnrch "News" ears j—The Hvailing idea abont town ia that the l'nistrv is a stop (tap one, and that tho sfc meeting of Parliament will see its in?rious finish. When Parliament Moeti. The Dunodin "Star" is of th* ojaaiou at when Parlwmeat j^Eemblfit_M4

Mackenzie Cabinet will havo to meot an Opposition reinforced by threo or four members or supporters of the Ward Government. It' expresses''surprise" that, the Primo Minister has;" dared to disregard Otago's claims- for' 'representation' with such cynical boldness. Will Ota(jo Submit? ' Tho' "Otago Dailv Times" says: The Socialist element in the Government is numerically strong, and yet it was in order that tho menace of Socialism might, as ho believed, bo effectively coped v'ith that Mr. Mackenzie abandoned his attitude of political independence.." in order to support Sir Joseph Ward! This same element in -the Cabinet may bo depended upon further to offer very powerful resistance to nnv effort'on Mr. Mackenzios part to promote legislation—if his Government ever gets the length of promoting legislation—that would provide for settlement of the Kind under such conditions ,as would afford security of tenure to the settlers. Regarding provincial representation, it adds: "Otago, for tho first time, wo believe, on record in the political history of tho Dominion, has no representation. Even if tho decision of tho caucus prevented Mr. Millar from joining the Ministry at all, except at the cost of his self-respect, it may bo inquired with some degree of relevance why Otago should be held to lie unentitled to any representation at all in the Ministry. Mr. Sidey, who has supported the Government for nine years, and is seuior to four mqinbers in the new Ministry in point of partv service, may bo left, to his personal reflections respecting tho slight that has been offered him. Ministerialists in Otago mav, however, argue with some justice that they aro surely entitled to representation bv at least one Minister in the Cabinet, and we shall bo surprised if they tamely submit, to tho,snub which has l;3cn administered to them." The Plaster of Compromise. -Tho Auckland "'Herald" say's:'. The new Ministry lias not; been overwhelmed with praise even-iin those quarters where praise was to ba looked for. It has 'not been welcomed with any marked degree of enthusiasm and cordiality. Theiipious hope is expressed that it may prove bettor than it promises, and be instrumental in advancing the public welfare, but it strikes us that there-is nn absence,of confidence in these somewhat'frigid congratulations. Tho nioro the peculiar composition of -tho..Cabinet,is-examined the more unlike..ly does it appear.; that tit ,will.l be able to surmount the I 'difficulties''that aro-in : «ton». foiCfit. 'ilt grVe's. too clear iand unmistakable evidence of having been constructed with a view to placate sectional differences. The plaster.of compromise has boen freely . used, , but ' whether: it will provo sufficiently adhesive remains to bo seen. There' are good judges who arc inclined to believe that at the first real teast tho Ministry will fall to pieces. •si Concern and Amusement. The West Coast'"Times" says:-After several days' of brooding and cogitation, tho leader of the Liberal party, "with'the backing of twenty-two members, has managed to select a Cabinet which he will offer to the House and the'country when the Governor invites,him to do so. The first thing that strikes thoso interested in the political situation was the thoroughly clean sweep Which has been made of the; •Ward : Eyery memberjqf 'thafiiriliappj" 'and '"disc'fedited",""GoVerhm'ent, .with, tho,,,exception'-,.;, of. the new leader, has been hurled from office, and the ex-Ministers can now enjoy themselves in the/harmless capacity of private members., >',■ Few will deny that-Mr.•■Thomas Mackenzie, erstwhile Conservative, - , and now ,the, freehold leader,, of the leasehold Liberals,' has striven desperately in his. efforts .to avert ,tho blow which must sooner or later fall-upon'his Ministry, and scatter it to the.-winds. ...Even Mr. Mackenzie could succeed in gathering figs oil. thistles, and his Ministry is simply a reflection.of the moribund and effete'party which lias become'so degenerate under a system of political autocracy. -The personnel ot the Mackenzie.,Min.istry;speaks for itself.-. All that can be said in'its favour just now is that it.will certainly -hold office until Parliament meets. It •contains-probably the biggest mixture'of, political creeds'and aspirations-.-.that "it.;, has ever been.possible to include withini, so sinalTa c6nipiiiij\ Meantime'the "peo-f pic can. ohly;,,wait-..and ,se,e.ho.w..tho now : . Cabinet'will; 'try!' to wriggle,': vfrom -\tlie smash which' is "looming. ' The'country looks on'with feelings partly of concern and partly of amusement.

THE HON. T. BUXTON. ' i-EBCIPEOCAL TARIFF. WITH AUS- •-:'■ ..;>;;; v. tealia.. ' ;i t, ,'JU}. ffii TeloeraJDb'.—l'rass'Assoel'atUH.l ',1 Timaru, March 29. The, Hon. T. Buxton has received many congratulatory messages. 1 ' 'In the course of an interview, he said he accepted office in the hope of being able usefully to serve the farming community. He mentioned especially a-reciprocal tariff with Australia on farm products. If offered a portfolio'later he would prefer Commerce and Agriculture. Mr. Buxton has been urged' to accept "nomination for anotherterm as Mayor of Temuka, .but'has dc-J clitied'. "' ""■•-■"'" "•>>"■•' MR. WITTY INTERVIEWED. DECLINED TO JOIN THE CABINET. Christchurch, March 29. Mr. George Witty, M.P., who returned this morning from '\Yellingtoii, was asked by .a reporter for., his. opinions regarding the now Ministry, ; but,declih,cd.'to criticise Mr. Mackenzie's Selection..'■■-.'; -.'? £.*' '■ Asked why he himsolf had been left out of tho Ministry, Mr. Witty said:—"l had opportunity to join the Cabinet, but I declined." He was asked if he would give his reasons for refusing office, but he would :.not allow-'himself to be drawn. .■- ...*&« IN THE WRONG PARTY. "There are half a dozen men on the Government side . who have - thrown in their lot with the wrong party," said ;Mr,. W- r 'F,- Massey/ speaking at a banquet tondered*to Eeform imembersVat.'Stratford. .-"Li the.main t ",'tlfcirj.yi6ws''are our views they are patriotic"and "democratic, and it is their duty to unite with us in forming '.ifthationnl .party,, .to . .take, the Government of the, 'country'out of those hands into .which it-has unfortunately fallen." '::}' . ..'^.V".'l ''.'" ' V, s ?,',\ L' ..S/TATJEMENT BY.MR. NGATA. %p "' Mr. Ngata has deniod the" statement that ho sought full Ministerial rank in tho new Cabinet. "I "halve never," he telegraphed yesterday to c contemporary, "asked for, Ministerial.rank. My,.desire to* retire fToni;'the position as .member of the Executive was known to "Sir Joseph .Ward,, Sir., Jamep Carroll,, and,,the Hon. ■T.- MackenziejVand ?my.' ; Ma6ri (.colleagues many w-eeks''ogo,''an'dT strongly' friend's (Te liangihiroa) claims to succeed.". -..,. ..-,. , ...