WHO SHALL LEAD?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 69, 21 March 1912, Page 7

WHO SHALL LEAD?

NEW HEAD OF THE LIBERAL PARTY. A DIFFICULT TASK. The conference which is to be hold tonight between the component part* of the force which defeated Mr. Mawey on tho no-confidence motion he proposed when the House met in February, is generally acknowledged to b© one of the most important since Ballance defeated the Atkinson Government at the polls in 1890, # and started a career of Liberal Administration, which ha* never been interrupted from that day until at the election in December. The meeting in timed for eight o'clock to-night, at the residence of the Prime Minister, and the sole topic of convereation among members and those interested is, "Who shall lead?" At tho moment the evidence points to the Hon. J. A. Millar being selected. But there are complications. It is well known that Mr. Millar, who entered the House some twenty years ago ac the elect of Labour, 'and was called to the Cabinet as a representative of Labour, is llofc quite go popular • now with th© class which he originally represented. On the other hand, it ie recognised by a considerable number of the members of tho Liberal party that he 1 stands out prominently ac the natural suceeseor to his retiring chief, not only on account of his ability and Ministerial experience, but because he is, it is urged by that section, tho only member of the party who would make a leader capable of , commanding the attention of the public and of expounding the views and policy; of the party. It is, however, owing to Labour's attitude that other possibilities in the selection have- been considered. The Hon. T. Mackenzie has, been Bug' gested. On the land question he is, and always has been, a prominent freeholder, besides which he has not always been & member of the Government Party, preferring the freedom til independence to the chains of adherence to one particular section. As an Independent, he may, it is urged, have said things that could easily be brought up against him by way of condemnation if he essayed the task of leading the Liberal Party, more especially if that party relied for its existence to a great extent on the support of Labour. As an alternative, it has been suggested that Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald. member for Bay of Plenty, should talse tho reins of office. Possessed of sound com-mon-sense, a good speaker when the- occasion demands, and having a good knowledge of tho Native land question (which looms large in the political .horizon), and a supporter of the optional system of land settlement, it is urged in some quarters that he might easily fill the position. The supporters of Mr. Millar cqntend that in such a crisis as at present exists the necessities of the party demand something more than negative qualities in a leader— they want v fighting man, one who could expound the policy of the newly-constructed Government i» - commanding manner. LABOUR'S VIEW.' The present position, therefore, appears to be that the majority of the {>arby ie in favour of choosing Mr. Milar as its new leader. Then arises thai question, "Whal will Labour say?'' There are four Labour members in ths House— -Messrs. Veitch, Hindmarsh, Payne, and Robertson — and they hold the balance- of power. They will meet this afternoon to consider what attitude they shall adopt at the conference of 1 parties to be held to-night. They have not yet decided whether to uttend cr not— -Mr. Hindmaish appears to hay« made up hi» mind that he will not ati tend— but it is evident that even if they, are present they will make 1 it perfectly clear that they are present merely a* in. terested lookers-on ; that their attitude is distinctly non-committal. So far as can be gathered they agree that a ternporaray alliance with the Liberal Party, is a more natural course to take than; throwing in their lot with the Opposition. The Labour members are quite aware that if they leave the Liberal Party they may increase the chance* of a dissolution, which, they agree, no members desire, but they are equally decided in the assertion, that they are guided by principle, and that they will adhere to the principles of the party, whatever may happen. What happened last night may throw some light on the position. "I am not going to attend this meeting of tho Liberal Party to select a Ministry," eaid Mr. Hindmarsh at a meeting of the Labour Party, and the statement, we are informed, was heartily applauded. "That expression of approval," said a prominent member of the party to aPost representative- to-day, "generally represents the feeling of Labour as to ite Parliamentary representatives participating in any way in the doings of the Liberal Party." In Trades Hall circles it is stated that the joining in with th© Liberals by any of the Labour Four for the purposes of electing a leader would mean practically an. alliance with the Liberal Party. If any Labour member is present and takes part in the business, it is stated that there will be considerable objection raised by outside Labour supporters. The ideal position, said one Labour man, would be for the Labour members to hold their own caucus to-night and to assert their independence, and let the Liberal Caucus plainly see that where something is given some* thing is required, with a strong intimation that unless the proposals in the Governor's Speech are given immediate legislative effect, tho Labour Four would take steps to force a dissolution. Labour does not fear a dissolution, especially if it resulted because of the concerted action of the Labour Four. It would mean again a three-cornered contest, with, it is claimed, brighter prospects for Labour. THE CABINET. Though the choice of his colleagues rests constitutionally with the Prime Minister, it to likely that the caucus will have a good deal to Bay about it. So far as can bo discovered, members 'are not yet agreed on the subject. Th© Canterbury contingent of claimants appear to be tho chief difficulty. Messrs. Laurenson, Ell, Davey. and Witty, >vith Mr. Forbes (of Hurunui) are under«fcood to be all desirous of a. seat in tho Cabinet, and, though their claims may not be equal, they are all, ad faithful supporters of the Government for many years, entitled to consideration. There ie another difficulty that has to be faced. Curiously enough, no member' or 'the party contemplates tho inclusion in the. new Cabinet of mow than two present Ministers— Messrs. Millar and T. Mackenzie—but It i» current rumour that one member of the present Government will have a good deal to cay it' he is to be left out. Assuming, however, that the party agree* to elect the Hon. J. A. Millar a.s leader, his Cabinet would piobably coiwibt of Ll\c following : Mei&ra. J A. M. Myers (Auckland lSo*t), U.& £sia^ .(OhjmHtturi), $£ % J). & U&J

, Dnr-aki (Bay of Plenty), G. Lauronson iLyttelton), G. H. Forbes (Hurunui), T. . K. Sidev (Dunedin South), and J. A. \ Hanan (Tnvercargill). : MOST ABLE MEN WANTED. ' "MERE LENGTH OF SERVICE AND < J * PARTY UOYALTY." JzX TStBOEXPH — BFXCIAXr TO THE POST.] j CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. * The Lyttelton Times says: "It is 1 scarcely worth while engaging in specula- * tions regarding the identity of the new t Ministers, but we should like to say * again "^hat mere length oi service or * party loyalty" should not be considered 1 to constitute a claim to .Ministerial rank. ', The country needs the most able and - most broad-minded men that 1 it can find - .to guide its political destinies. Our * joung nation should be led by statesmen * who have big hearts as well as strong ,* hands, and who are fitted to interpret ! xightly the aspirations and discontents that are the motive'power of our national 1 advancement. , JVc have every confidence * in the ability of the progressive groups ' io provide the right men, as well as ~ |be> requisite amount of self-sacrifice and ,; patriotism." - '