POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1919, Page 3

POLITICAL OUTLOOK .

| SPECULATION AS TO iPO’RT- ! FOLIOS.

WHAT THE DISGRUNTLED REFORMERS WANTED.

(Dunedin Star Correspondent). WELLINGTON, August 25. j The people are asking insistentily still why, in allotting portfolios rendered vacant by the resignation of the Liberals, i Sir Jas. Allen has accepted nothing. They further ask, with bated breath, what can he the reason? Sir James is not overloaded with Defence only, seeing that lie has acted as Prime Dlinister in two years out of the last three and had the whole military war burden on his shoulders. It is whispered that the trouble is the High Comniissionersliip, which Sir James Allen

demands as the coping stone to his poli , tical career, whilst Mr Massey has other views—possibly as a haven of refuge for himself. Sir F. D. Bell has come to the rescue, taking Education, Internal Affairs, and (Justice, but it is doubtful if the House will submit to 'Education being held by a member of the Legislative Council. In Mr Seddon’s day, when the Hon. W. C. Walker held that portfolio in the Upper House, Mr Ell carried a motion on the Estimates demanding that Education be transferred to the Lower House, and this was accepted. It is also ieremarked that with the Attorney-Gene-ralship, Law Drafting, and Leadership of the Council, Sir Francis already has his hands full. Possibly )Sir James Allen may, under pressure of the Reform Caucus, resume Education, which he handed to Mr Hanan when the Nai tional Government was formed, j Caucuses of both parties will be held on Wednesday, and the railway “cut” has been eased, at least for one moment, to bring the faithful hither. Mr Massey’s immediate responsibility is Reconstruction. It must be a veritable nightmare. Mr Herries must be jettisoned, say the quidnuncs. Mr Mas-

sey doubtless realises that the railu ay fiasco spells defeat for his party unless he can bridge the gulf. But how can lie do that if Dir Herries with a beaming smile, meets a pack of wolves thirsting for liis blood. Then comes the problem as to who will succeed to this portfolio. Mr Massey’s party are singularly short of men of Ministerial rank. From Auckland the onlv possibles are Mr Parr and Mr- . Vernon' Reed; hut the former is not a strong man. He lias never had any weight in the House. Ho would be a bold Prime Minister who took in Mr Reed. Both Mr Edward Newman, and Mr Pan', are possible Ministers, the member for Rangitikei for choice, as a farmer, and it is to the farming party that Mr Massey must put his faith. Then both Mr J. B. Hine, and Dir C. E. Stathnm must be regarded as in the running. Then what about the chances of Dr Newman, who would be prepared to take on anything even the command of New Zealand’s Little Navy, if the job were offered to him. ‘ I have mentioned the names of the most likely “possibles” for the vacancies in the Ministerial team, hut is any of them big and strong enough to undertake the management of our railways? It must not be overlooked that the position carries £3OO a year more than what is drawn by -the Minister of Defence and any of the other Ministers. Obviously Mr Massey cannot hand over this important portfolio to either Sir Win. Fraser or Dir Guthrie. Thus the only man in sight who is capable o carrying the railway load is Sir James Allen. Can he be persuaded to take it on, in addition to Defence? ' It is current talk in the lobbies and the fact has been known for sonic time past) that the disgruntled among the Reform party demanded before D[r Massey left for Paris that he should re- j construct his team, and among tho , demands they made was that sir Janies Allen, Sir Wm Fraser, and Dir Herries should he jettisoned. That ultimatum was repeated to DTr Massey by the Adul- j la mites of his party, but h c never returned any answer to their suggestion. This leads up to my final query —Will Mr Massey recognise _tli o awkwardness of liis present position with an emasculated Ministry and incipient rebellion within his own rangs? Or will he ride to a fall, and thus escape from a position of unparalleled difficulty that , he is suddenly faced with? j It may he assumed that Sir Joseph i Wafd will not give Dir Massey a chance , but will assist to keep him m office. ,■ If this proves correct, what a spectacle j for the gods and for men! | Sir Joseph Ward would require the , assistance of Semple, Holland and Co. to successfully test the strength of par- j ties, and it may he stated with perfect , safety that Sir Joseph will not avail himself of such support. The act-na tussle for office will therefore not take place on the floor of the present House, but at the polls. In the. meantime, the Governor-General's Speech is in process of incubation and politicians arc on the qui vive iji the expectation of the disclosure of the Ministerial programme that is to offset the Liberal Leader’s manifesto.