CABINET PORTFOLIOS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 141, 10 March 1920, Page 6

CABINET PORTFOLIOS

THE VACANT POSITIONS. In the announcements that have boon made about the appointment of new Ministers, a few of the important portfolios have not been mentioned. Sir James Allen is to so out of office soon, and his two portfolios of Defence and Finance have not rot been allotted to any other Minister. "Mr. Massey is Acting Minister of Finance, and it is probable that ho will retain this portfolio, even after other appointments have been made to the Ministry. The question of who is to be the new Minister of Defence, has not. yet been settled. Though the Department will never again be so important as_ it has been during the war, there are important changes to be made, and it may lis considered advisable that the Minister appointed to take charge should be able to give his undivided attention to the task. If Mr. Downio Stewart is in such health that he can undertake Ministerial work, he may be the man chosen for this Department. There seems to be no likelihood at present of Mr. Massev relinquishing the office of Minister of Railways. In the course of n few weeks the Prime Minister will be faced with the task of annotating at least one new Minister. ITo will, at any rate, have to make the appointment before the oppning of the session. If the election petition of Mr. Hine 6hould riot succeed, it may be that ho will have' to appoint two new Ministers.