EARLY CHANGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 December 1931, Page 2

EARLY CHANGES

RESHUFFLE OF CABINET PORTFOLIOS LIKELY. REFORM PREDOMINANCEWELLINGTON, Monday.' The possibility of early changes in the personnel and allocation of portfolios in the Cabinet is being speculated upon as the result of the General Election issue. In some quarters it is anticipated tha^ the present equal representation of the United and Reform Parties in the Cabinet will be altered in order to give the Reform Party more seats than the United Party in proportion to the Reform superiority of number 3 in the new Parliament. It is regarded as not improbable that the Hon. A. D. . McLeod will have the first claim for consideration in the filling of the Ministeriai vacancy caused hy the defeat of the Hon. D. Jones, and that to ad- . just the balance of weight in favour of the Reform Party at least one of the 0 nited Party Ministers will be required t6 hand over his portfolios to • a Reform memher. Both Mr. R. A. . Wright and Mr. K. S. Williams qualify for promotion by virtue of previous : Ministerial experience. Such alterations would have the effect of giving the Reform Party six Ministers and the United Party four in the present Ministry of ten. Possibly, however, the strength of the Cabinet will be increased to the cus- . t.omary number. The reduction to ten Ministers was made two and a hal'f months ago, when the 1 Coalition Government was formed, the principal reason being an economy one. It is argued by some that the need for economy -still prevails, and that the principle of the smaller Gabinet should he maintained, but on the other hand there is a feeling in the Cabinet, as well as in other quarters, that the reduction is throwing the' burden of Ministerial responsibilities too heavily upon a few shoulders, and that an increase in the number is justified. It is expected that all Ministers "will be in Wellington in the course of the next few days. Cabinet sittings will probably be frequent, as the campaign has naturally resulted in a number of ' matters being held fn aheyance. To-day the Prinie Minister has been the recipient of many congratulatory messages both from within and without the Dominion.