THE NEW MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 4

THE NEW MINISTER.

a ■ MEMBERS' CLAIMS DISCUSSED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary BeporterJ WELLINGTON, this day. "Who is going to be the next Minis. teT?" is a question which, greatly perturbed the minds of many member* in the dying days of the Parliamentary session just completed, and! in the lobbies it was easily the foremost subject under discussion. The Hon. W. HallJones' appointment to the High Commis- , sionership necessitates the selection of another Minister of the Crown, and a great many names have been mentioned ■ as likely to be considered when the new appointment is made. Chief amongst those mentioned are Messrs. Geo. Lauren- ' son, R. MeKenzie, F. E. Baume, G. Witty, T. Davey, T. Hornsby, T. M. Wilford, T. ■ Mackenzie, and the Hon. J. A. Sinclair, , a member of the Upper House. Since the i Hon. W. Hall-Jones is a Southern repre--1 sentative, it is argued that the new Mm!- --! ister must of necessity be a South Island • man, but others claim that the North • Island' can put forward the most eligible ' candidate for the position. Of those men- , tioned the names finding most favour amongst members generally are either , Messrs. Laurenson or R. MeKenzie, if a , South Island representative is chosen, . or Mr. F. E. Baume if a North Island r member is selected to fill the vacancy, i , _ 1 CLAIMS OF THE NORTH ISLAND. > (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, Monday, s At a meeting of electors at Foxton, addressed by M. Frankland, Government > candidate for Manawatu, to-night, a re- • solution was carried, on the motion of j Mr. Hennessy, chairman of the Chamber E of Commerce, urging that the vacancy in ! the Cabinet caused by the Hon. W. Hall- ! Jones' appointment as High Commis- • sioner, should be filled by a North Island, ! representative, and that no one was more deserving than Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P. for Masterton.