THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11668, 2 July 1906, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The political situation is being much discussed and some rumors are afloat. One of the latter is that when Sir.T. G.- Ward has returned and formed a new Ministry the Hon. W. Hall-Jones will retire from the Ministry al together and either seek the seclusion of private life or content himself with a seat in the House quite apart from the cares of office. Another rumor is that about a score of the members of the House as soon as Parliament meets will endeavor to force a reconstruction of the Ministry, and that they only desire the retention of the Hons. W. Hall- Jones, Sir J. G. Ward, and A. Pitt in the reconstructed Ministry, the former as Premier and Sir Joseph G. Ward as Colonial Treasurer. The claims of the North Isand it is urged by many cannot be overlooked in the formation of the new Ministry, and the names of Messrs Fowlds and Baume are mentioned, while Mr F. Mander reckons that if Mr Seddon had lived he would not have been forgotten in the event of a reconstr ie ion of th^ Minist;/. Of South Island members the names of Mr McNab and Mr Millar are mentioned; trm latter to talo> ehargejof

certain that Sir J. G. Ward has :t. difficult task before him. ancl that it will require all his , tact, and diplomacy to keep the Government party together. It would indeed "he a sorry sight to see a rupture take place. Each member of the Liberal party should be impressed with the idea that no bettet memorial could be erected to their late belovod Leader, than for them to stand unitedly, shoulder to shoulder, to carry out the progressive and humane policy initiated by the Seddon Government.