SPEECH BY HON. R. M'NAB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8182, 15 August 1906, Page 3

SPEECH BY HON. R. M'NAB.

A 5 INTERESTING STATEMENT. Per Press Association. Gobe, August it. The Hon. K. McXab, Minister for Lands, was banquetted by his constituents to-night, about 3UO being present. The Minister, in his reply to the toast of his health, did not touch on the policy of Sir Joseph Ward's. Administration. Befcrring to his own appointment, he made public for the first time the fact that the late Premier had offered him a seat in the Cabinet in Februiry, 1905, as Minister of Lands and Education. Mr Seddon also expressed his intention of offering Mr Millar the portfolios or Marine and Labour. He further stated that if a farther appointment were necessary, the man whom he would offer the post was Mr Fowlds. That showed Sir Joseph had formed a Cabinet as Lis late chief would hare done. Had the late Premier lived to the end of the year, the Cabinet would h»Te been reconstructed and the niei, now promoted would hare been in his Ministry. Regarding the cry that mcr with diverse views such a* were in Cabinet could not pull together, he instanced the Licensing legislation of the last Parliament, which was only effected as the result of a conference between two men diametrically opposed on the question, Mr Millar and himself A working agreement lia-1 been arriveil »t between them, and the legislation was effected, and that was the Hue the Ward Administration would follow.