POLICY IN EACH POCKET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 2 March 1912, Page 5

POLICY IN EACH POCKET

PROSPECTS IN POLITICS. DILEAIMA OF THE LIBERALS. FORECASTS SUMMARISED. MR. T. JIACKENZIM AS PREMIER. ;Bv Telegraph.) (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Reform Party is not at all disheartened at the result of the division on the no-confidence motion. On the contrary it regards its position as stronger than if it had won with the assistant of the pledge-breakers and most of the no mind of their own but simply go with tho winning side. The Opposition feels certain that when the House meets later in tho year it will have at its mercy any Government that can be Jtormed out of the remains of the Liberal party. The Government party collectively in caucus is endeavouring to put a good face on tho position, but individual (numbers are anything but cheerful over the outlook CAB IN ET-MAKING. Their difficulty begins with Cabinetmaking. It seems generally agreed that Mr. Thos. Mackenzie must be tho new Prime Minister, and it is suggested that with him will be associated Messrs Laurenson, Myers, Reed, \\ ilford, Ngata, Veitch and Rusell. There is some doubt as to whether Mr. Wilford could be included, as his health would bo unlikely to stand strain of office, and there is also a. doubt about Mi - . Veitch accepting a, portfolio, as the policy of Labour is to remain absolutely independent, of both parties. The moment it becomes associated an <a Ministry it loses itsidentity, and that it is not in accord with the new policy of Labour. Such a Cabinet would certainly be a queer mixture., seeing that- in its ranks would be represented the freehold policy, the leasehold policy f with the brewers and Labour. It is also to be noted that Otago would be without a representative, and seems certain that. Mr. Massey could smash such a combination within two or three week s of its meeting the House. "TW T 0 POLICIES." In order to .become an effective force in the country such a combination would require to keep two policies in its pockets, one for the moderate -wing and one for the ultra-Radicals and the Labourites. Mr. Ell (Christchurch South) is not mentioned as a Minister, but he might be provided for by giving him the Chairmanship of Committees. The fact that there are so many Canterbury men in the party make Cabinet-making all the more difficult. SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward's position is uncertain. He might be anything from, a sort of power behind the throne or Prime Minister under the rose, to a.rather unimportant and diminishing force in th*> dvnamics of the ranks. One idea is that lie will go out of New Zealand politics and take the British Commercial Commissionership for which, colonial representatives will be required for a number of years at a salary of £2OOO a- year, with travelling, expenses ; meantime there seems to be no place for Sir Jas. Carroll and Messrs Millar, R. M'Kenzie, and Buddo. They are, it is said, to be dropped overboard, and only Messrs Thos Mackenzie and Ngata retained. There is, of course, much speculation in the air but nothing definite will be decided tih the party meets in Wellington in a fortnight's time. Then they will choose a leader and he will form his Cabinet. Mr. McNab has been recently in close consultation with Sir Joseph Ward, and he may be chosen to lead in the Legislative Council or to contest the Awarua seat in the event of Sir Joseph Ward resigning.' MR. ATM ORE'S ATTITUDE. AN INTERVIEW. Defining his political attitude last evening Mr. H. Atmore, member 'for Nelson, stated that he wouid maintain his: position as an Independent. Asked whether his vot e in the no-confidence division on Tuesday night had been influenced by Sir Josep Ward's promise to resign, Mr. Atmore replied that he hao beeh influenced mainly by the two considerations. He, in the first placethought that the Opposition had not been candid in its criticism of the frenzied finance of the Government, .because, in his view it had made no real resistance to the •borrowing of the last 18 millions that have been added to the public debt. In spite of repeated denials by the Leader and by members of the Reform Party. Mr. Atmore adheres to the theory that it represents the large landed interests of the country, and will not countenance I that increase which he ' desires in the I graduated land -tax. Mr. At-more stat- ! Ed that he concurred in many of the proposes advanced in the Speech, but recognised that the bulk of them could not be embodied in any policy 'of the immediate future. He indicated ra/dical land reform as the policy departure that should just claim attention. The amount of the graduated tax, he coni side red, should bo ' increased sufficiently ; to- break up all the. large European-owned 1 es'tites, and he thinks thfit tHis would involve a : substantial- increase in the amount of the tax; The main features of 'the family settlement lands bill in •deferred .payment, freehold settlement measui'e introduced, but not.-gone on with ,in the session of 1900, meets - with ■ his approval. Asked whether'a Government introducing measures sucE" as these would be supported by him in a no-con-fidence motion, Mr:'Atmore replied that it would depend upon the form taken 'by the mo-Gonfidence motion. He assumes that the reconstructed Ministry which is to meet the House in. June will be challenged by - the - Reform Party, but holds that the new Cabinet will not be ansr werable for ny past .'sins, but will start ife v.;!with si. clean record.