The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3420, 11 January 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1912.

The Premier and his task.

During the past few weeks the Prime Minister has eei tainly not enjoyee rosy times. It wa: surely bad enougi to be at the head of a party when it- los 1 its previous substantial majority in xh< House. But the task which he has eiuct been engaged upon—an effort to se cure for his 'Government the retention of power—must have been still mou painful. If Sir Joseph Ward car really command a majority —no matter if it be a small one—one could not.have felt surprised if lie had attempted to defer the holding of Parliament until the results of the business for the year are available. The fact that after caueases and private conferences with members he still lias to admit that a small section of the House outside the main parties holds the balance of power tells its own tale. Do what he could lie has clearly been unable to improve liis position. There is, indeed, much food for reflection in the circumstance that he now intends to meet Parliament with his Ministry as it at present stands. Was that his original plan? We do not tliiuk so, for it seems to have been established beyond doubt that he would have willingly included a representative of Labor, and perhaps one of the Independents or Doubtfuls in his Ministry in order to save the party from defeat. The offer, which it is claimed to Mr Yeiteh, the Labor member for Wanganui, and which has not ret formed the subject of an official lenial, is evidence on this point. It ;s even admitted by Sir Joseph Ward that he had a confidential interview ivith Mr Vjptcli, but- he adds that its untrue mi at he ever thought of of'ering bin#the portfolio of Railways. Will the Ijfvriie Minister, however., deny iluit the Jportfolio of Labor, which is •lie one if was reported had been offer'd was fever mentioned ? Offers to dlier mwnbers —both inside and outside he Ministerial Party—arc also talked d, but Slothing definite seems to have een ajrecd upon. What is most ikely tl have happened—under all the irciimJtances—is that Sir Joseph Yard found it quite impossible to efectitl® changes in his Cabinet that e Vnfust have desired in order to trengjnen his position. Need this be matter for surprise ? It is clear that y was very limited in his choice of uitable appointees from among the lortli Island Ministerial members. ,nd, again, it is equally patent that it

would lie useless to bring about a reconstruction in which South Island members would predominate. Sb it would appear that Sir Joseph Wardmuch against his will—has to face parliament with his present much weaken- <<| Ministry. F<»r our own part we thmk that, under all the circumstances, H is probably very much better for the Government that nothing of the kind Had at this stage been effected. Look at things as one may, it is impossible to imagine Ikmv he could have brought off such a big stroke without loss of dignity to himself, and. what is more, without sowing more .seeds of disaffection among his party. He could non have overlooked certain of the older members of his pait.v without occasioning a good deal of heart-burning. As to what will happen next one has to wait and see. It is 'thought by the “Dominion”, for instance, that it is the Government's object to resign when it discovers on the eve of the assembly of Parliament that it really has not a majority. This move, it adds, wo., id be to force Mr Massey to meet Parli.-j----ment as Prime Minister, and unless }.<• were prepared for such a contingency, it might place him in a very awkward position. The position of affairs at the present time would really lead one to suppose that despite the Prime Minister’s claim to a small majority he sees clearly that there is a very great risk of the Government being defeated, if it doe* not resign, and that in turn a Massey Government might fee] it more advantageous to appeal to the country than to attempt to carry on.