THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 482, 13 July 1912, Page 5

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

AN ADDITIONAL MINISTER. I Wellington, Thursday. The new Ministers were busily engaged to-day caking up their new quarters and making the acquaintance of departmental heads. The Hon. Mr Ilerries, on arrival, was heartily greeted in the lobbies. He was sworn in, and with the other members of the Ministry dined at Government House. Interviewed this morning Mr Massey said it was intended to appoint an additional Minister who would probably occupy an honorary position. A constitutional question respecting the same had cropped up and had been referred to the Crown Law Office. The appointment, in any case, was not likely to be made before it had been fully considered by Cabinet. ' No selection at present had been made for the appointment, but it was intended to add an extra Minister.

Questioned as to the Internal Affairs portfolio, the Premier said there was no intention to remove the same from the Upper House, but Cabinet waß arranging for a distribution of departments affecting the popular chamber amongst Ministers in the House. There was no intention at present to reallocate the Attorney-Generalship. Regarding the High Commissionership, Mr Massey declared that Cabinet had not had time even to consider this appointment, or the nomination of a Chairman of Committees. Cabinet had decided to hand back control of both legislative chambers to the joint control of the Speakers of both Houses, thus reverting to the system originally in vogue. Asked whether he intended to carry out he new Parliamentary Buildings scheme already initiated, the Premier said the Hon. Mr Fraser was calling for a report from the department on the whole subject for the information of the Cabinet. Except for a few details requiring immediate action, Cabinet had not had time to discuss its future programme. THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP. There are no new developments respecting the leadership of the old Liberal party, members asserting that the position is remaining in statuß quo meantime.