THE NEW CABINET

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1825, 4 August 1906, Page 3

THE NEW CABINET

(Special to Gisborne*. Times.) Wellington, last night Tho lion. 0. IT. Mills has written as follows to Sir .1. Waul : *' Lear Sir Joseph,—l realise from tho expressions of opinion convoyed through tho press and other sou rot s, that you aro surrounded by many difficulties in llio formation of a Cabinet. I wish you, so far ns lam concerned, to exercise an absolutely free hand when nominating your now colleagues.— Your sincerely, 0. H. MILLS. This of oourso settles tho tu *tfor as far as Mr Mills is concerned, and ho will car- I tamly not ho in tho new Mini-try. I Mr Duncan, as I have already stated, bus l innolf informed mo that ho will ho absolutely leyn’, and will give Sic Joseph Ward a frro hand. Under tho oircuiustnuo.3, therefore, t feel justified in pro dieting that Mr Duncan will fur tho remainder of this Parliament bo a privaio

member. Tho only question remaining to bo decided is who uro tho members of tho party who will fill tho throu vacant plncas in tho Cabinet ') On this point nothing definite is known, nor is lik-.ly to bo known, for three or four days. But fiom a lengthy knowledge of Purliamont and tho capabilities of tho men in the parly, I seo no reason for departing from what I wrote after tho news of Mr Stddjti’s death, to tho elleot that Messrs Miliar, McNab, and Fowlds

would bo given poitfo’ios in u rcoou structod Cabinet undor tho leadership of Sir J. Ward. Mr Millar is a certainty. Ho has msdo liia mark in Parliament, end while lie is tho natural Labor lender, ho is likely to bo sound ou the question of finanoo, and unlikely to go in for any 11 fi.owotks ” pc: 1 oy that would ho lo tho detriment of tho colony or oven any largo section o f tho people. Ho will also ho a strong man from a debating point of view. Mr MeNab’s qualifications are well

known. As cue who has known his career for many years, I feel confident that Sir J. Ward oould not got from within his own party a more capable man to make some aory necessary refoims both in 'ho Agricubural and in tho Educational U partment. Mr McNab will bo a speaker, and at the s tmo time he will lend valuuble aid in debate. As to Mr Fjwldi. ha is a man greatly 10‘pec ed by everyone wl o knows him. Though represemirg jourua's in opposition to him poitioally, I have a'waya found him to bo gtntlemanly, frank, and straightforward. Llo is a man of sound business aouman end judgment, with more than the a-, orogo kuowicdgo of Gnanoe. His appointment, however, will not be well rtctivtd in tho countiy dlstriois owing to his stiong advocacy cf tho single taxation. Ou this point, however, there need bo li tie cause for a'arm, f r it is pret y certain that Sir J. Waid would not teki him into his Cabinet unless lie (Mr Fowlds) was prepared to subordinate his vi ws on this que-tion to thorn of tbs other numbers cf tho Ministry. No doubt in forming his Cabinet ou those lines, Sir J. Ward will displease some cf thomsmbirsof tho party. Mr Roderick McKenzi'-, who may havo had hopes of reoeiving the portfolio cf Mines, wi ! l no doubt form a little opposition cf his own, in company wi.h his brother West Coast member, Mr Colvio. Mr Wilfcrd and Mr Hcgg wiil also no dcubt bo disappointed. The former, however, can scarcely expect Cabinet rank as yet, while Mr Hogg wiih his ultra socialistic ideas has quite put himself out of court. Howovcr, in the ma' ter of Cutinot-makiDg it is impassible to pltaso everybody, and though in taking in Messrs Milla", McNab, and Fowlds, Sr J. Ward will undoubtedly make some new opponents, yet

I feel confident that bs wiil have a sufficient number of loyal supporters to oatry him through to the ml of tho Parliament. Before finally deciding upon tho Cabinet ha will no doubt be desirous cf talking over matters with the new men he proposes to associate himself with.