POLITICAL NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS.

CABINET REARRANGEMENT,

VIEWS OF MR. MASSEY. \ "A VERY PECULIAR POSITION." With, regard to tho redistribution of th# portfolios, Air. W. F. Massey, Leader of tho Opposition, told a Dominion reporter that ii« was liot surprised at what haa taken place. Ho wont on tosay that lie had a great deal of sympathy for. Mr. llogg. Apparently tho other monikers of tho'Ministry did not object to Mr. Hogg holding strong views on tho eubjeot of land nationalisation and paper mojiejp, but \vhat tlioy did object to was his expressing his opinions. They knew perfectly Avell that Mr. Hogg held such opinions prior to his becoming a Minister, and if they objected to thorn; ho presumed ho Would not have boon appointed. "I suppose," continued Mr. Massey, "that after what has happenod thoro is no objection, to Mr.'Fowlds being a Singlctaxer so long as ha does not cay so, or to Mr. Buddo being a leaseholder, or to Mr. Ngata or Mr. Carroll being opposed to tho immodiato opening up of tho unoccupied lands, bo long a 5 vbow* gentlemen keep tlieir opinions in tho background. It seems to mo that tho Ministry is getting into a very pccnKar position insomuch as no other Ministerbut the spokesman, whoever he may happen to bo,' will bo allowed to express any opinion. in easo he divulges tho real sentiments and policy of the party—thot is to say, tbero will do two sets of opinions in tho Ministry, .ono, for. : tho Cabinet-room; and: one for uso in Parliament and'on the platform."

INTERESTING IF TRUE, V It is stated on reliable authority that U» , claims of tho Attorney-General .(Dr. , Wftro considered in connoction with tho posi-" tion of Acting-Prime Minister. His ohances ' wcro, it is stated, considerably) intcrforod . with in.'consequent*), of tho recent attack on tho Government for allowing the portfolio, of Minister , for Justice to bo held in the--Upper House, and tho criticism of tho Polio# Department, of which ho was in charge. ■ ' ' THE VACANCY. ;i ;j\ ' Thero is considerable speculation-, w to. :whothor the .vacancy in tfio,Ministry caoood' ■. through' tho retirement,of Mr.' A,"\V. Hogg will be filled, but tho general opinion is no fresh, appointment will bo made.- . PROPOSED COALING STATION IN N.Z. Tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph \Vard) will urge upon the Imperial authorities the advisablcnc6s of establishing a harbour for '• ooaling station at l'oint iyiswboth.;. Recently tho matter was brought, under *tJio riblioo of Sir Joseph by the' Hon. A. R., Gumnesß, ; member, for Grey! It appears .'that' as - far I'baok ns 1888 tho harbour at Point EliMboth, which was then known as Vsrt Curtis, , was ' surveyed as a commercial It. is understood ' that > Sir Joseph has, V> '.isri with him » numbc-r of 'plans and reports. It will bo remembered. that a, littlo over twelve months ago tho Admiralty' intimated' that they ooold not sod their way to incur i.ny' csponso in this regard'"at tho present iimo." - ■

JOTTINGS. Mr. VI. F. Masscy, Leader ot. tho Opposition, Imvos for Auokland. via tho Mam Trunk lino, this morning. ; Tho Hon. A. It. Uuinuess. Spcaltor of tho Houso 6f„Representatives, .will lcavo oa Monday or; Tuesday for' Auckland, and 80. , torua, 'where he x'ill spoiitl a fortnight. •, Another sitting of tho Timber Commission . was held,' yesterday.: It is understood that ■ members mil meet again to-day, Hi© report; will,-.it is stated, bo ready for presentatiort on Jtomlay. Tho Hon. R. M'Kendo, Minister for Public Works, will roniain in during tho next-few days. Ho is at present busy : in regard -to nia'tters connected. with the v Roads and Bridges Department, which is no\y under, his'control, owing to the.retiromont, of-Mr. A. W.i.Hoggtfroni tho Ministry, '.'I have no doubt'that tho Hon, Jas. Carroll,'will, perform the duties, pertaining' to the office'of Acting-Primo Minister, with'tho same industry and oncrciy. with which lie haa. filled tho position of Nativo Minister," observed Mr. Masse,t, Leader of tho {Opposition,..to .a Dominion representative' vostcrdar. ■ _ Cabinet ypstordnv arrived at a final do-, oision with regard to; tho route of tho North / of Auckland ,Main: Trunk railway, It is an- : ticipated.that an announcement will: bo mado . on tho subject, to-day.

THANKS TO MR. HOOC. i (By Toloeraph.-Presfl Association,) > ; j • ■■■' - Dunodln, Jtuio.lß. The Bootmakers'- Union'..passed-'a motion that: a letter of thanks be forwarded to Mr; ■ Hogg, for tho stand_ taken- by him with ro. .. gard .to State noto issue and land caticatl- : Jsation. 80ME PRESS COMMENTS. > (By Toleirrapli.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, Juno 18. v .Tho "Star," i speaking . of .tho Cabinet l ■ ohanges,- says: No doubt Mr; Carroll's long Parliamentary and public experience and th« loyal op-operation of his colloagues will enable him to oonduet tho country's business with suocobs fori tho noxt four months.. Wo" ■ may prcsumo thai when Sir Joseph ..Ward is back again and Parliament takes up its interrupted- labours' it will"; bo; iiocessary to make some further'addition to tkb Cabinet to fill the place left vacant by Mr. Hogg. It has been anticipated in some quarters that Mr.' T. Maekonzle)- who is- at pw:sent a »\ Atinister without .salary, may tlion reoqivo higher official status, but' of this .there is no present, indication.; 1 We'would prefer, ito bo-.../, lievo that in justice to; the more important half;of the country tho Prime Minister will appoint a .North Island representative,.. . 1 Tho "Herald'' says:-' And: we .hayei Mr.-, : liuddo of all men appointed to act as Minister for Lands 'during SirJokcnli Ward's, sb-'; sonoo. in.. England. 1; - Mr; Bud jo stated ■ iti - Canterbury public; meeting . that thoro ii . abundance of good la'nd> open in' tho north, and that ' 'speculators';'' are making the flgita- • ■ tion for the , unlocking of tho ' Native land. ■' And Mr. Carroll iB to be Acting-Prime Ministor. It is ;a > gloomy , outlook. Mr. Carroll has shown cttitudiv not by foolish words, but by delusive promises - and tli6, constant blocking 'of, action!

Chrlstoluirch, June JB. Reforriijg, to the resignation of tho Hon. A;. W. Hogg, the "Lvtteltoji Times'-' states t Tho offfliico, of the Minister, for Labour lay ." in .acccptinc ofiico when; there- could he no, possibility of his ondorsinn tho Ministerial' . policy in rogard to. certain very.. important o issues, Ho must have known that his presenco in tho Ministry under these conditions would constitute a grave souroo of- danger to i the whole Government-. • The: "Press" voices the; general surpris# that is felt at Mr. Carroll's appointment as' Acting-Prime Minister.. '.'Mr. Carroll,it says "is notoriously tlie-most indolont member of tho Cabinet, and his own. Department ha« ' •been', allowed to -fall- into EiicV a state of chaos that another Nntiyo_ representative Jibs been taken' into tl»c Ministry largoly, with the object of helping to straighten up tho Native office, Wo hardly like .to think of what may. happen 'duriug the nest throa months with, Mr. Carroll as acting - chief of tho Executive. ... The;ipubiic generally ex- , pected that Mr. Millar would have boon appointed to_ tlio position,- and tliero' is no • doubt that is what ought'to' have boon dorio."