MINISTERIAL TRIP HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1916, Page 4

MINISTERIAL TRIP HOME.

ABSENT .MINISTERS' PORTFOLIOS, By Telegraph.—Special to News.. Wellington, Last Xiglit The departure of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward is still officially a profound secret, in accordance with "the Imperial authorities' desire, but the question ot the custody of their portfolios dyring their absence is being freely discussed. It is taken for granted that the Hon. J. Mien will be Acting-Prime Minister, but it is expected that one of the Liberal members of the Cabinet, probably the Hon. Dr. McNab, will be associated with him in the temporary leadership. Dr. MeX'ab has also been tipped for the temporary occupancy of the office of 'l'ostmaster-fJenernl, while it is generally anticipated that the Hon. A. M. Myers will go to the Treasury as Minister of Finance. Hon. Sir F. D. Bell, who has lately been assisting the Prime Minister in administrative work, may take charge of the Lands Department, and the Hon. W. 11. Herrics is suggested as actingMinister for Labor. The Hon. W. D. MacDonnld will be entrusted with Industries and Commerce, and other transfers of minor importance will be made, but the Cabinet is so strong numerically that the administrative work is not likely to suffer through the brief absence of the two leaders.