THE CABINET VACANCY,

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 157, 3 July 1917, Page 4

THE CABINET VACANCY,

THE GOVERNMENT'S CAUTIOUS ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Like the well-quoted instance of the donkey and the bunch of carrots, the Cabinet vacancy on the Liberal side dangles temptingly in front of a number of aspirants who, I bear from well-in-formed quarters, will nave to remain expectant for quite a long time. The leader of the Liberal party is not in a hurry to fill the position, for he is as yet uncertain about the state of affairs. En any case, a prospective position worth getting is often used to keep on their good behaviour all the men who believe, in their hearts, that they are likely to succeed to it. Quite half a dozen men on the Liberal side are probably in this category, though the gossips have begun to count out Sir John Findlay, once first favourite in the race, because his symptoms of independence are pronounced. When he tabled his little bombshell about the judgeship, it was felt that he would never be inclined to sit in the same Cabinet as the Hon. A. L. Herdman, but if the Attorney-General reaches the haven he is said to be approaching, this difficulty will disappear. Sir Joseph Ward, before settling upon the new Minister, will doubtles/) pay attention to the repeated suggestion that his Liberal colleagues in the Cabinet have not been pulling well together.