The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3566, 4 July 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1912.

There tan he no Question but that the misnamed “Li--1 beral” party despite its long claims of late r.s to its prospects, is really in a very parlous way. Faced with a want of confidence motion and undisguised hostility on the part of some Ministerialists, the new leader of the party (Hon. Thomas Mackenzie) seems, in fact, almost afraid to' hold a caucus; and, as an alternative, has followed tlie unusual course of addressing supporters and supposed supporters by circular. Could there possibly be any stronger evidence of the instability of his side? Emphatically, no. It is really a dolorous appeal which is contained in the circular, and certainly one not calculated to further the cause of the present Administration. Here it is:—

I- the “Liberal' Party Boxed up?

“Dear sir,—When in March lastyon entrusted me with the task of forming a Government, and pledged yourself to support it, I fully recognised the difficulties and responsibilities of the position. The circumstances were critical, and in the course you took you sank differences and personal claims in order to save the country from the danger that threatened it., viz:., the defeat of the Liberal party. The' danger was averted for the moment, but it still exists, and the question now is how best to meet it. As regards the coming ‘no-confidence’ vote, I havo no fear of the result if we stand shoulder to shoulder. Having been selected by the party, this confidence should,* I submit, he accorded me. We shall win then, and after the struggle is over I will restore, if necessarv, that trust to those who gave it.' I- would likd to contrast at this moment the solidity, in face of extreme diverse, views of the Opposition, with what is said to be the position of our party, and to observe that if we are 'defeated by a solid 38 it will mot be a defeat by the Opposition party, hut will lie brought about by (and constitute) political suicide in our own ranks.

Whatever difference Vof opinion may exist among you as to the personnel of the Government, and the geographical representation in the Cabinet, I cqnnot believe that any one of you will desert the party at the time when the result of that desertion might bo the throw-back of the progress of the country for years, and mean the disintegration of the ' forces of Liberalism for a long period. Even, however, when the no-con-fidence motion is defeated, the difficulty of the position remains. The strength of parties in the House is so nearly equal that the possibilities of a dissolution cannot be ignored. lam confident that the country is with us, and that if we go to it as a united body we shall come back with a good working majority. Tho one aim of myself and of my colleagues is to accomplish this, so that .the development or the Dominion may continue on the same _ lines of progressive Liberalism as have proved so advantageous hith-

or to. Personally, I have done all in jny power to justify the confidence “reposed in me when you elected mo. leader, hut after full and careful consideration of the whole position, I think that in order to secure harmony and unanimity of action in the face of a common danger, an opportunity should be given to you of considering the matter afresh. To this end I propose, if we succeed on tho no-confidence motion, to call a caucus of you all, and place the Government in your hands, leaving 'it for you to determine afresh, if you so -desire, the question of leadership and the personnel of the Ministry. Tins step is taken solely with the desire roi unitv, and to" remove all cause ot complaint; and is not taken for the purpose of advancing the interests of any person or persons either within or without the Cabinet. In taking this course 1 have the hearty concurrence of my colleagues.

'Surely'this can only be described as a very extraordinary appeal ? it means, it- will be seen, that as fai as the question of majority is concerned the “Liberals” are no j better off than they were last session, when in order to avert defeat the recent-reconstruction had to be promised. What is clearly at tlie bottom- of the whole trouble is discontent on the part of a number of Ministerialists on account of the fact that the Hon- Thus. Mackenzie is leading the party and also on account ofyliis appointments to his Ministry. There are some who seem to think that if the Hon. J. A. Millar had been selected as leader of the party ho could have commanded a majority of the House. This, however, has been proved quite wrong, for it lias been shown that at tlie famous caucus five members —Laborites and Independents—emphatically declared that they would not support him. Others, again, are no doubt holding that Sir | .Joseph Ward may be called upon to again lead the party. But if the exPremier had no option but to resign some months ago how could he possibly hope to secure sufficient support to-day? As far as one can see the “Liberals” have no hope of finding “the right man” to rehabilitate their party in the present House, Tims it comes about that Ministerialist- after Ministerialist in the House last night urged an appeal to the country. What, then, will they prefer to do? The general opinion seems to be that a number will “fuse” with the Reform party. If not, the lines to be followed will be: “If the. ‘Liberals’ have to go, the Reform party must, if at all possible, be prevented also from gaining the Treasury Benches.” It does not, of -course, follow that Mr Massey will be disposed of quite so easily as may prove to be Mr Mackenzie’s fate.