MR COATES’ TASK.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1925, Page 4

MR COATES’ TASK.

; (••Press" ('crrcspomlcul.) wei.cixotox, xnv. ii. 1 ll 111:iy lie taken lor granted tha . 0110 nl' l lie first problems Unit M Conti's will attack wii 1 be tl'o roeon -si met ion ol his Cnhinol. There nr already vacancies that most ho tilled - and possibly some members of the pro soul Cabinet may he rel icing ho fur. very long. II is generally understooi In political circles that even he ton the. Election -Mr Anderson was think ino ol' resting from the labours ol ad ministration. He has done reinarknbb oi.od work as an administrator in to Departments he has had under hi charge, and if lie does retire now la will be much missed by all those win have been in close touch with him Xo indication has been given by tin Prime Minister as to when his new colleagues will he called to the Cabinet neither is it known what lie has ii his mind as to who should lie selectee for the vacant portfolios. Possible he will take no action until after Hu Christmas and Xew Year holidays. There are four members of the non Parliament who stand out as probable Ministers, viz., Mr 0. .1. Ilawken, tbc member for Egmont, Mr David Jones, the new member for Ellesmere, Mr J. A. Young, the member for Hamilton and present Chairman of Committees, and Mr E. P. Lee, elected for Omnium. The appointment of these gentlemen would mean a strong accession- to the Ministry, both in point of ability and debating power. T 1 fE ATTORXEY-OEXERALSUTP. It will be very difficult to till Sir Francis Bell's place as AttorneyCeneral. Mr C. P. Skerrett’s name lias been mentioned for this position, and no doubt Mr Coates would like

to see him there.' but it is understood in legal circles that Sir Robert Stout will he retiring soon—possibly at the end of the year—and that Mr Skerrett will be the new Chief Justice. Before long it may he possible that Mr Coates may take the Hon. . T. Xgata. the member for the Eenstern Maori district, into his Cabinet. .Mr Xgata’s ability is undoubted. He is also one of the very best speakers in the Mouse. He is a mail held in high esteem by all Parties, and, moreover, he has already had ministerial experience. THE HIGH COM.MISSIOXER.SHfP. The High Commissionership in Lon don will become vacant at tlie end of Sir James Allen’s ierin. and most probably Sir James Parr will he selected, to fill that position. IX THE RIFT OF THE HOCSE. It i« the House and not the Government that appoints the Speaker for each Parliament, and the general opinion is that the Hon. ('. E. Stilt ham will be again elected. If Mr Voting becomes a Minister of tne Crown, Mr Heckly will lertainly be made Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. Ho has filled the breach on several occasion when Mr Young was temporarily absent in the last Parliament, and he has fi’led it with credit. j

THE WHIPS. Mr .1. S. Dickson, tlio member lor Parnell, who lias I icon a remarkably efficient Whin. and Mr \V. S. Glenn, who is popular in the House and tlies country, will no douht be asked to continue to act for the Party. Till-: o|.|-'rci.\l, OPPOSITION'. Labour members will no doubt soon he ticketin'; (heir seats on the front Opposition honchos, lint, it is not yet certain that they will ho in a position to lay claim to he the Official Opposition. Should Mr McCombs and Mr O'Brien not get home in the official count, the Labour ‘Party will he only II strong;, and the Nationalists, if Mr Atniorc can lie counted with thorn, woidd also he eleven in number. In addition, there is Sir .Joseph Ward, the solitary Liberal, who would certainly be opposed to Labour, to he counted, so that Mr Speaker might reasonably deride that the Nationalists have the better claim to he recognised as the Official Onnosition