COALITION CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1915, Page 8

COALITION CABINET.

OPPOSITION CAUCUS TO-DAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yosterday. A caucus of lumbers of the Opposition Party was to be held this morning to hear the results of yesterday's conference between the • leaders of. the two parties 011 the question of a National Government. Owing, however, to the fact that a number of members of the party who were away for the week-end !ut(l not yet returned to Wellington, it was decided to adjourn the caucus until to-morrow. A CABINET LIKELY. ■Wellington, Last Night.

The final statement of party leaders with regard to the National Cabinet negotiat inns h expected to be made in the House of Kepresentatives to-morrow afternoon. Tin- Opposition rations did jjoi. meet this and lhu Li-ader had to postpone for twenty-four hours his report to the members of his party regarding the outcome of yesterday's conference. All the evidence avaikihl" in the, meantime goes to show that the party leaders have reached an agreement, and that a National t'abinct is likely to com.' into existence '.his week. Rumors are, rife regarding the probable composition of the new Cabinet, in the event of the Opposition caucus deciding in favor of co-operation with the Keform Party. One gathers the impression that there are likely to be ten European Ministers. five representatives Jroin cadi side of the House. Mr. Massev will remain Premier. and it is assumed that lie will have associated with him Hons. .r. Allen. \V. H. Il'iTies, A. L. Ilcrdman, and Sir Francis Bell. This arrangement would involve the retirement of Hons. W. Kraser and 1!. 11. Phodes. Hon, ))i\ Pouiare. who is at present representing th> native race, has not a scat in the Cabinet, ft is regarded as probable thai Sir Joseph Ward will have with him Mr. (I. W. Russell, Mr. A. 51. Myers, ant Dr. McNab, The leader of the Labor Pariv (Mr. Tlindmarsh) would not be Jikcly i" accept a -eat. Messrs McDon- ! aid. I'iirbcs.. Sidey. and llanan are the I oilier Liberals who-e names are men I tioned;

Anvilum-- in (Ik 1 nature (if ;t coniideiu prediction \< made perilous by tin* exist once ot several factors of uncertain value. Tin- Liberal caucus undoubtedly -would prefer thai Mr. Myers should not km* a seat in the Cabinet, though the party leader inijiht take a different j view. J)r. McXab is one of the Liber.it members who declared at an earlier .-.tK.ii'e that they would not accept oflkv in a Coaliiioii Cabinet. but conditions have changed lo some extent since thaE.j The .-.oh- certainty, apart from Sir Joseph ! Ward himself, appear- to be Mr. Russell. I! nepot kuiorr. Mi on Id break down at 1 tiii- lair ia.* the political Miuaiion will become complicated and dillicuU- in lie the ilou-rnmeni. wilhoiil the active operation of (lie Opposition. In deal wilit the financial problem created by the way. The additional charge for interest, in ; enn-equenco oi thU years loan.-, is 'tn amonnf lo .Miinetliinu like land Ihe Defence MiniMer estimates tlm* ! lie war peii.-ion.-. are iMnnii; to coM neariv el.ililo.OHil yearly, within two years. Ordiiiary iv\emie is falling, and apparent ly it \< poinu; tn be practically impo>ible lor the (.overument to borrow at reasonable rates !or public works. nr. indeed, for am purpose not directly runiH'ct'd wilh Ihe war. A Mudy of :he liiianeial po-ilion indeed th• ■ t mean> of a Mmni! (iovernment, with an assured majority. jimperative. 'Wellington. Last Ni^ht. ]n (he Jfou-e of Representative (his afternoon, the Prime Minister .-.aid that lie did not propo.-e fw br'up. onward IVe-ii bur-iness until ihe proposal for a National Cabinet had been >e(lled one way or the other; lie hoped It) be in a position lo make a statement-to-morrow. S : r Joseph Ward aUo said that he limped to make a statement to-nmrruw.