WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

; (Our Special Correspondent). ! THE REFORM CAUCUS. A 'TRIUMPHANT RALLY. WELLINGTON, February 16. ■ The official report of the Reform \ caucus on Saturday follows the usual lines. All the members of the party were present or accounted for and the gathering was of tW most harmonious character. The Prime Minister was congratulated upon his “sweeping victory” and the new members report, more closely than is always the case on such occasions, indicated very fairly the constitution and temper of the meeting. It was a time for self-con-frratulation and self-congratuiation was not lacking. Hut Mr Massey did not allow his supporters to separate without reminding them of the difficulty ofsome of the great problems he and they had to solve during the life of the present Parliament. There necessarily had been a period of “go slow” 1 in domestic legislation and in public works and the pace in both these directions would have to be accelerated. CABINET APPOINTMENTS. Mr Massey’s own pressing problem at the moment is the reconstruction of his Cabinet. At present the Prime Minister has eight colleagues, Sir James Ailen, Sir William Fraser, Sir Francis Bell,- Sir William Herries, Mr Guthrie, Mr Nosworthy, Mr Coates, and Dr Pomare, making up a Ministry of nine which before the war was considered enough for the requirements of the country. But Sir James Allen is expected to go home to take the dual position of Resident Minister and High 'Commissioner —with probably Sir ( Thomas MacKenzie looking after the commercial side of the office—-Sir 11 illiam Fraser is to retire for a well-earn-ed rest and Sir William Herries also may elect to take a. spell as a private member. These withdrawals will .leave Mr Massey with three vacancies to fill and it is generally understood it is Ins # intention to bring up the numerical strength of the Cabinet to ten by making one additional appointment. THE' NEW MINISTERS. Much of this, of course, is speculation, but it is, for the most part the speculation of people who may be supposed to know more about the insand outs of the position than can the mere man in the street. Assuming it is fairly accurate forecast of what will happen Mr Massey will have four appointments to make. The impression lie gave to observant members of his party on Sa-

turday was that two of these would be made forthwith, perhaps during the current- week, and that tile other two would be made in a more convenient season. Until the (Stratford petition is decided Mr Hino’s eligibility foi leappointment will not be determined and with the possibility of another election being ordered by the Court it would be a very unkind thrust indeed to the late occupant of the scat to close the way to his restoration to ministerial rank. Delay in this case is excusable. IN THE RUNNING. Other members thought to be in the running, mentioning them in alphabetical order and not according to prefernco, are Mr G. J. Anderson, Mr A. S Malcolm, Mr Edward Newman, Mr C. J. Parr, Mr V. 11. Reed, Mr Statlinin, Mr Downie Stewart, and Mr .T. A. Young. Sir R. 'H. Rhodes would be on the list were it not for the fact that there is a plethora of South Island eligibles Mr Massey’s idea of an equitable ministerial balance between the two Islands is seven for the North and three for the South, and as Mr Nosworthy already is in the. Cabinet, the probab lities seem to point to two of the new appointments being made from members representing constituencies on this side of Cook .Straits and two mcmliers representing constituencies on the other. If this should be the ultimate arrangement- Mr Anderson and Mi Sta''tilam mav be the final selections from the South and Mr Parr from the North with the reversion of Mr Hiue’s portfolio remaining for Mr Edward Neuman or Mr Young. But no one can discover what is in the Prime Minister’s mind. .