WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE CABINET

ITS RECONSTRUCTION

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 12. All Lho Ministers are in Wellington to-day and at the moment are sitting in Cabinet presumably to receive the Prime Minister’s announcement of the redistribution of portfolios. There has been much speculation and many rumours concerning this delicate opera-

tion during the past week, but whatever his intentions may be in the matter, Mr Coates has kept them to himself very closely. It is the first big job he has tackled since his promotion

to the Premiership and Ids personal friends are awaiting the outcome with as much anxiety as the public is with curiosity. It was rumoured sonic days

igo. with the precision such stories rather with repetition, that the Hon A'. Nosworthy, the Hon If. F. Belaid, the Hon G. J. Anderson and the Hon Sir Maui Pom are would retire, uid that Mr Hockley, the member for Rotorua : Mr K. V. Lee. the member for Oamarn ;Mrß. J. Rolloston, the member for Timnru, and Mr Tv. S. Williams, the member for Bay of plenty would be appointed their suc-

cessors. A later story, however, is to the effect that -Mr Xoswortliy's friends in the Cabinet have made representations to the Prime Minister which ensure the inclusion of the present Minister of Agrieeulture in the reconstructed Ministry. If this is true it suggests that Mr Coates is not standing his ground with all the sturdy determination that has been attributed to him.

F CKTIIF.II VACANCIES. Of course the death of Mr Massey and the impending retirements of Sir Francis Bell and Sir Heaton Rhodes leave Mr Coates with three appointments to make without disturbing any of his present colleagues, and pf the persistent rumour that Sir .Tames Parr is going Home to assume the office of High Commissioner is well founded, he might lie, aide to find seats in the Cabinet for all four of the gentlemen named without seriously imperilling the harmony of the happy family. It has been asserted very confidently in home quarters that Mr J. A. Young will he preferred against Mr F. Hockley in filling the vacancy created hv Sir .Tames Parr s expected retirement, and there can lie no question that the member for Hamilton lias rendered yeoman service to liis party as well as to his constituents and the country. But Mi Hockley, though comparatively new member, was quickly’ noted from the galleries as a distinct- addition to the general knowledge and debating ability of the House, and he has maintained that favourable impression ever since. If Mr Young should be chosen for a. portfolio in preference to the member for Rotorua then tho latter gentleman probably would succeed to the committee chairmanship, a position for which he has distinct qualifications. It is being whispered about that the Hon Vernon Reed is to he the now Leader of the Legislative Council, but up fo tho present the story has not obtained much credence.

LACK OF ATTENTION. Tlie account given by one of the •Christchurch evening papers of the •scant courtesy shown towards the party of 'English howlers during their trip l-.ctween Wellington and Lyttelton and on their arrival in Christchurch has aroused much folk hero. Tito manager of the Union Company has entirely disposed of the suggestion that his company and the elfiners of the ‘‘Waliinc” were in some way responsible for the discomforts Lie travellers suffered. “Directl.v the company became aware that the visitors were travelling by the ‘Waliinc’ ’’. lie said to-day, “directions were given for all the available accommodation on tlio boat to l.e reserved for their ' : ;o. We could not turn off passengers who already had hooked their berth’s, hutshort of that- wo did everything possible for the comfort of the bowlers and their friends. It was not the hospitality we should have liked to offer them, hut it. was our host as cirenmstulives stood.’’ The explanation of tlm Tourist Department is scarcely so satisfactory. “I have written to the Auckland office of the Department for a full explanation as to the Department’s part in arranging the tour,” the manager of the Head Office explained last evening, “and until a reply is received 1 cannot give any definite explanation.” The first thought this statement suggests i.s that a telegram would have brought a reply more promptly than will a letter, and the second that the Head Office should not have remained in ignorance of such a largo hotly of tourists. IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. Quito without inspiration, it i.s perfectly safe to sav, the “Evening Post” is preparing the country for an early meeting of Parliament and a short session in order that the Prime Minister may got away to the Imperial Conference to lie held in London this year. “An Imperial. Conference between June and October” the “Post” says, “will cause lintorferenee with our domestic programme, hut the inconvenience i.s a small price to pay for the privileges of membership in tho Empire. Mr Coates can leave New Zealand with no fears for the security of his party, and li is ample majority 7 should enable him to put urgent business through in an early session if necessary. Mr Bruce in Australia could also attend without great difficulty. In fact, he was reported recently as making his Parliamentary plans with this end in view. But the position of Smith Africa is not so certain, and Canada is most doubtful of ail. Canada- lias yet to decide wlio shall speak for her, and the decision may he of tho utmost importance, since tho consequences of the Locarno Pact must be one of the principal subjects discussed at the Conference.” Without any inquiry From the Prime Minister himself it may lie confidently assumed that lie has no desire to figure at an Imperial Conference this year. ITe has not yet acquired the “Conference habit” and there i.s much for him to do here. The probability is that Sir Francis Bell will represent New Zealand at the next Parliament of the Mother Country and her Dominions.