POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 81, 4 August 1915, Page 7

POLITICAL.

PROSPECTS OF NATIONAL CABINLT. Wellington. August 3. The filial statement of party leaders wiU regard to the National Cabinet negotiations is expected to be made in the House of Representatives to-mor-row afternoon. The Opposition caucus did not meet this morning, and the Leader had to postpone tor twenty-iour hours his report to tne 'member.- 01 his party regarding the outcome of yesterday's conference. aj|

j.lie evidence available in the ine.....i.,.ie goe..i to show tii,.l the part;, leaders nave reached an agreement, and that a .National Cabinet is likely to come into existence this week. Rumors are rife regarding tne probable composition ol the new Cabinet, in the event of the Opposition caucus deciding in favor of co-operation with the Reform Party. One gathers the impression that there are likely to be ten European Ministers, five representatives from each side of the House. Mr Massey will remain Premier, and it is assumed that he will have associated Iwith him Hons. J. Allen, W. H. HerIries, A. L. Herdman, and Sir Francis Hell. This arrangement would involve the retirement of Hons. W. h laser and K. H. Rhodes. Hon. Dr. Pomare, who is at present representing the native race, has not a seat in the Cabinet. It is regarded as probable that Sir Joseph Ward will have with nun ->lr G. \V. Russell, Mr A. .VI. .\:.,ers," and l)v. McNab. The leader oi ch« Labor Party (Mr Hiudmarsh) would no. lie likely to accept a seat. Aiesisrs McDonald, Forbes, Sidey, and Hanan are the other Liberals whose 'names, are mentioned.

Anything in the nature of a conndent prediction is made perilous by the existence of several factors of uncertain value. The Liberal caucus undoubtedly would p.efer that Mr Myers should not have a scat in the Cabinet, though the party leader might take a different view. Dr. McNab is one of [the Liberal members who declared at inn earlier stage that they would not .accept office in a Coalition Cabinet, but conditions have changed to some extent since that. The sole certainty, apart from Sir Joseph Ward himself, .appears to be Mr Russell. If negotiations should break down at this last 'stage the political situation will liecome complicated and difficult in the extreme. ' Jt seems scarcely possible for the Government, without the active co-operation of the Opposition, to deal with the financial problem created by the war. The additional charge for interest, in consequence of this year's loans, is going to amount to something like £600.000, and the Defence Minister estimates that the war pensions are going to cost nearly £1,000,000 yearly, within two years'. Ordinary revenue is falling, and apparently it is going to be practically impossible for the Government to borW.w ~,at .reasonable rates for public works, or. indeed, for any purpose not directly connected with the war. A study of the financial position indeed, suggests that some mentis of securing a strong Government, with an assured majority, is imperative. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Prime Minister said that he did not propose to bring forward fresh business until the posal .for a National Cabinet h«d. I>een settled one way or the other j Tie hoped to be in a position io pv ake a tat<? _ ment to-morrov,\

Sir Joseph \YV rt ] also sai(] that ho hoped t(j muko a statement to-mor-row .