WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

HAAVKE'S HAY SKAT. * _ DR. McNAB'S SUCCESSOR. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, Feb. 12. The announcement that Sir John Findlay would be a candidate for the Kawke's Bay scat in the House of Representatives rendered vacant by the death of Dr. McNab came as a surprise even to his intimate personal friends. It was known that lie continued to take a keen interest in public affairs and that lie was frequently consulted bv his old friends remaining in Parliament, but it was never thought he would be pursuaded to make the sacrifice entailed in his return to active politics at the present time. It is taken for granted that if he is accepted by the constituency—and 011 t.'iat point there appears to be little doubt—he will succeed to Dr-. McNab's place in the Cabinet and be compelled to largely curtail bis very lucrative practice at the bar. The Reformers, in accordance with the agreement made Between the parties when the National Government was formed, will not contest the' seat and it is understood that the great majority of the Liberals in the district are prepared to give Sir John their hearty support. CABINET CHANGES. Sir John Findlay's readiness to return to politics and the prospect of the Hawke's Bay constituency accepting his services have revived in slightly altered form some old speculations concerning impending changes in the National Cabinet. A month or two ago it was believed in many quarters that Sir Joseph Ward would remain in Loudon as High Commissioner and member of the Imperial Council, and that the balance of parties in the Cabinet would be maintained by Mr. Herdman taking a seat on the Supreme Court Bench. At tnat time Dr. MeNab was to be the new leader of the. Liberal Party. Now the story is that Sir Joseph will come back to" the Dominion a little in advance of Mi-. Massey, hand the leadership of the Liberal Party over to Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald and return to London to fill tlie positions which have teen assigned to him there. The distribution of his portfolios, nominally at any rate, wouia be the prerogative of the Prime Minister, and it is suggested Finance woulu remain permanently with Mr. Myers and Post and Telegraph go to Sir John Findlay. This would leave Dr McNab's portfolios to be allotted to the other Liberal members of the Ministry and Sir John Findlay free to accept the Attorney-Gen-eralship when Mr. Herdman retired. SCARCITY OF LABOR. Though the scarcity of labor at stealing and harvest time proved less acute than was generally expected, there is throughout the North Island an unsatisfied demand for experienced and capable farm hands. In the Taranaki milking districts the withdrawal of men for the- Reinforcements is seriously threatening the production of dairy products and in quite a number of instances farmers have been compelled to reduce their ■herds. In one case a man who is milking fifty cows with the assistance of his son and daughter is about to lose the son by the operation of tlie ballot and is unable to find a man to take his plate at any price. If the boy goes into camp without leaving a substitute behind him the farmer will have no alternative to getting rid of fifteen or twenty of his cows, and this loss, he declares, will extinguish all the profit ho has been m'aking from his incessant labor. The case is typical of scores of others reported from the dairy districts.