THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 141, 15 June 1906, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

SOME OF THE CHANCES. CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE. For the present the question who shall., bo the new Premier has been answered, aud shortly will come another — who will form the now Catwnet? It may bo taken for granted that until Sir Joseph Ward's return the work of administration will bo carried on ,by the present Ministers, but after that will come the task of reconstruction. Actually, of course, there is only ono vacancy, but there is a t strong probability that tho party, judging from its muimuring in tho past, will insist on a considerable change in the personnel of tho Cabinet. Whoever unaertakeo th*> task of reconstruction — Sir Joseph Wari, Mr. Hall-Jones, or any one eke. who may arise before that time — will have plenty of candidates for office to choose from, and already some of tho mom conspicuous exponents of the Liberal cause in th© 'House aro almost openly voicing their own claims. But it seems to be generally acknowledged that Mr. J. A. Millar will on this ocoasion find a Beat in the Cabinet, and there is little doubt that the party as a whole would approve of the choice* There is ,a general impression abroad, however, that the great political change which has just taken place will result an more than one of the present Ministers resigning then Oabinet rank, and cither reverting to the position of private members or, later on, , finding a place for meditation in the LegislativeCouncil. For these possible Vacancies a big struggle may be anticipated among tho older members of the faith/ml, and as many will hope to be called ' and but few can be chosen, a considerable amount of heart-burning may be anticipated. Who are the probable successors to whoever may be deleted from the Ministerial ranks? Mi. M'Nab can probably bo regarded as a certainty if he* chooses to aspire to office, but there are several others who will reckon on their claims being considered. Mr. ifo/jg, tho member for Masterton, has tdready etood aside more than once ; duriiig the many years he has been a member 'he has stood by his party in and out of Parliament, and has always been ready \rith voice and vote to assist the pafisage of tlw measures of reform with which that party has been associated. His steadfast adherence to the Government might well -make his friends seek for a reward for his perseverance. Mr. Bauma, an Auckland member, evidently considers ho has a good chance of being entitled to put "Honourable" before his name, but Mr. Baurtie is a comparatively youn& mdhiber, and it is doubtful if tlte part> as ( a whole would approve of his ap pointment. Mr. A. Kidd, anothtfr Auck land member, has also been mentioned a«i a probable new Minister. 'His only ro commendation appears to be thtt he is Government Whip, and, although thau was considered sufficient in tho cast* ol Mr. Mills, it is not likely that it will' weigh with the Premier in this instance. Then there is the member for HutL (Mr.' Wilfoyd). Rumour has it that ho has cast his eyes on a Ministerial appointment — Minister for Jusltice for choice. Probably, however, 'fie would forego his claim if he were given the chairmanship of committees ii» place rjf Mr. Millar should the hitter , enter tho Cabinet. Mr. Arnold, too, the chairman of the Labour Bills Committee, will probably consider that he has a claim ou 'the party. Then there is Mr. Laurenson. He spoke plainly sometimes, but he was always sorry when the heal of the moment had led him off tho track, to which kg invariably returned. Is he to be altogether a negligible quantity when the Cabinet is being rt> constructed? Sir William Steward's claims, too, cannot be overlooked. Ho has held a seat in the House longei, probably, than any other member, his knowledge of forms is very extensive, and his devotion to party has been throughout most pronounced. Finally, It is quite possible that the claims of Mr. W. H. Field will have to be considered. Never once since he took his seat in the House has he swerved from his political allegiance, and it is quite on the cards that his name will come up for consideration when the final selection is being made. Enough has been said to show tnat the process of selection will' be long and difficult. Mony others besides those mentioned will doubtless consider they have claims, and will press them to the full. As already stated, it is suggested that an informal caucus of tho party should be held after the funeral, 60 that members may exchange views on the subject. The final selection, however, must rest with whoever is to be regarded as the permanent Premier, and his task will be by no means easy. In an interview with a representative of the Hokitika Guardian, Mr. J. A. Murdoch, Mayor of Kumara, emphatically denied the statement, made by a Greymouth paper, that he was likely to contest the Westland constituency with Mr. H. L. Michel, Mayor of Hokitika. He asserted that no one had the slightest authority to circulate such a statement. Mr. Murdoch thinks it most 2>remature to discuss the subject. When the proper time arrives he will give his support to a suggestion made that a member of the late Premier's family should be offered the seat.