THE POLITICAL FUTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 8

THE POLITICAL FUTURE.

WHO WILL THE MINISTERS BE? PUBLIC SERVICE APPOINTMENTS. [BY TEI.KGRArA— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. Speculation- still has to-take the place of definite, announcements as to the immediate political future. It is now understood that .even if the objections of Mr. Hindmarsh and some of the "Liberals" to the Hon. J. A. Millar's leadership could be overcome ho would himself refuse to become a member 'of such an administration as is expected to be formed. It may be found that disaffection in some cases is a safer road to preferment than the most distinguished,ability /or tho most faithful services to the party. Thus it may bo deemed impossible to afford a portfolio for. say. Mr. Ell, whose vote is considered "absolutely safe, While there are so many other members of whom the same cannot bo said. Tho more the subject is discussed tho more are the politicians and the watchers of the game impressed by the extreme difficulty of tho task of forming the promised new Ministry. Speculation Ims hardly got. as far as the allocation of portfolios among the possible Ministers, but it is said that Mr. Ngata will bo the new Native Minister. If so, this will.be the first time the portfolio has been held by a representative of a Maori constituency. It will bo very, difficult to choose a Minister for Finance to carry out tho extensive loan-raising operations, which Sir Joseph Ward hat? postponed, to be dealt with by Ins successor. It is at any rate clear that Sir Joseph Ward is still at the head of the Government, and that ho will virtually select the new Cabinet. .

The Liberal party meets here about a fortnight hence to select a new leader and form a new Cabinet. There can bo no doubt.that the party is in as. great a fog as ever, and it will bo very difficult for any loader who is chosen to find a way out: indeed tho task would seem to bo an almost impossible one, especially, seeing that there are some 24 aspirants for about eight portfolios. Another difficulty in the way is that one of the present Ministers, whom the party wishes to push overboard, insists upon clinging on to the sorely-buffeted barque. Finally some of the members representing rural constituencies will be ready to hive off the moment an ultra-Radical-Labour Cabinet is announced.

Meanwhile it i« being pointed out that a number of very important appointments in the Public Service are nearly due to be made.. Mr. W. C. Kensington (UnderSecretary for Lands) retires on March 29. If the recognised practice- is followed, his position will be given to one of the Commissioners of Crown Lands, or some other high officer, and quite a series of promotions and transfers will naturally ensue. The retirement of Mr. F. Waldcgrave (Under-Secretary for Justice and Commissioner of Police) also takes place this month, and will necessitate the appointment of a new Under-Secretary, and possibly of a separate Commissioner. Most important of all there is the selection of a successor to Sir YVm. Hall-Jones, whose term as High Commissioner in London has only been extended to March 31. All these important appointments, numbering perhaps a dozen when the necessary consequential promotions are taken into.: account, are due to be made this month, during which the only Government in power Will necessarily be of a temporary and provisional character. Perhaps within the same period the New Zealand Government will be -asked by the Home authorities to nominate a member of the Imperial Trade Commission. It is still rumoured that appointments may be made to »the Legislative Council during the present condition of political instability.

OUTSPOKEN, WOMEN. THE BROKEN LABOUR PLEDGES. A largely-attended meeting of the Wellington branch of the Women's Reform League to-night, while congratulating Mr. Massey and the members of the Reform party "on their glorious fight in connection with" the no-confidence motion, passed the following resolutions: — • "In view of the present political crisis and the possibility of an early appeal to the electors, the 'Women's branch of the Reform ' League pledges itself to do its' utmost to secure the defeat of the discredited Government party, which is in the ignominious position of being supported by brewers and monopolists, and is kept in office only by the broken pledges of two Labour members and the casting vote of the Speaker." That some explanation is due by this league to those Oppositionists in Otaki who, at the league's request, worked and voted for.Mr. . Robertson, believing him to be a man whose political pledges could bo relied on." "<■

. "Thai-the league urges the women of New Zealand to vote in resolute • effort to remove from office a party which welcomed such men as Messrs. Robertson and Payne into their ranks, knowing that they had broken faith with their constituents."

THE NEXT MINISTRY, TV A CANTERBURY SUGGESTION. [BY telegraph^—OWN' correspondent.] / . Ckeistchurch, Monday. Mr. W. S. Maslinj cx-M.P., who unsuccessfully contested the. Ashburton seat at the last general election in the interests of the Ward party, writes as follows to the Lyttelton Times : —" I think I express the opinion of a large section of the electors of this Dominion .in regretting that Sir Joseph Ward should have been led to state that if his party were successful in the vote on the no-confidence motion he would retire from the Leadership of the Liberal party. He has certainly passed through, a terrible ordeal, but he stands to-day as the ablest statesman, and most capable leader in the Dominion. Why should such a man be sacrificed on the altar of political expedience? I hope his followers in the Houso will urge him to reconsider the position,. and retain the Leadership, c.nd reconstruct his Ministry. If this cannot be, then I would presume to indic-ite who should hold some of the more important positions in the reconstructed Liberal Government. Prime Minister, Minister for Lands, and Agriculture, Mr. Thos Mackenzie; Minister for Finance, Railways, and PostmasterGeneral, Sir J. G. Ward; Minister for Customs, Marine, and Public Works, Mr. J. A. Millar; Minister for Labour, Mr. Robertson. These are the most important portfolios.. The other positions could .be •filled by plenty of capable men from the rank and file. I venture to nay that a. Ministry so constructed would command confidence, and could, if necessary, appeal to the country."

MR .T. M. WILPORD'S CLAIMS. "MUST BE A MINISTER SOON." ',*r TELEGRAPH.— ASBOCIATTON.] Wellington, Monday. At the opening of,.the new Town Board offices at Upper Hutt to-day, the Hon. R. McKenzie (Minister for Public Works) referred to Mr. T. v M. Wilford,. M.P., who is; i* England on account of illness. "If he is not in.the reconstructed Ministry, of which people arc talking," said Mr. McKenzie, " he must be in the Ministry before very long." -:.. The Minister regretted that advantage had been taken of Mr. -Wilford's absence from the House, through illness, in a way in which no political party anywhere else would, have followed*