AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12081, 9 August 1917, Page 3

AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER.

DESIRES AND RUMOURS. Some rumours arc being received ot dissatisfaction in the Federal '« nbincti and of irritation in the Nationalist party at so-called domineering attitude of '.Mr Hughes to keep within his exclusive control the most important matters with which the Government has to deal, even when they should more pioporlv belong to other departments. This, however, is caused partly by the fact that the Prime .Minister has a closer knowledge of the subjects than some of his colleagues (Isays the Melbourne (cor respondent of the '• Sydney Daily Tele* graph''), and that his ouiek intelligence and his grasp of ilie problems arising out of the war and calling for administrative Parliamentary action is much more complete. Another element of the situation is the coterie which clings round Si; John Forrest, and regards him as the. only possible head of a Federal Government- S ; r John Forrest -nay have nothing to do with.the wire-pulling which is periodically opera i-"'i in bis behalf, but he is apparently not oblivious of the indiscretions of his many political friends. ]t is said now that, if by any chance -Mr Fhgbes should go'to England to take ■< position on'the "War Council, the propondrraneo of opinion in the Nationalist party would be in favour of choosing Sir John Forrest as the leader. But! the present indications are against anything of this kind happening. Thciv is a small section of politicians who believe that Mr Hughes would be prepared to retire for something better His own parlieuhir end of the p-ari.v thinks that .Mr Hughes's ambition is to he the Prime Minister., and to remain the Prime Minister throughout the Parliament and beyond it if possible. So that the rumours which are in the air now are purely speculative. There are conditions within the party which might tax the resource of any leader to set right; still, they are not so serious as to be nnndjustable. Mr Hughes has so far met with much success in his management of the business of the session in Parliament Sir John Forrest might have managed if well also, though he has never been distinguished as a Parliamentarian. Moreover, he is singularly out of touch with all the modern developments of politics. But lie has a wonderful capacity for gathering politic;.! friends around him through the use of these social influences which have an inspiring effect on susceptible members. '"This is the source of what strength he has. As a member of the old school of Parliamentarians, he is a picturesque survival, hut he is by no means in contact with the spirit which governs men to-day. The politicians who gather round him believe in him .Partly because he is Sir John Forrest,' hut mostly because they think that through his instrumontalitv tliov also may have a. chance of rea'ching the upper heights of statecraft. . n ~ Mr Hughes's reputation m Parliament is certainly not less than it was when the session opened. Tts tendency is to rise whatever internal party differences there may he. These may disappear as time removes the difficulties which, he has had in accommodating himself to the new conditions. The" most unlikely evenn is that ihere will be anv change in the National leadership. If it should com" the successor would probably lie not one of the older Parliamentary hands, but: one of more recent advent mto Federal politics.