The Political Situation

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 65, 25 August 1919, Page 5

The Political Situation

The End of the Coalition Government.

RESIGNATION OF LIBERAL MINISTERS.

A bombshell was thrown into the politioal arena last Thursday, when Sir .Joseph Ward repigned his portfolios in the Coalition Cabinet. The other Liberal Ministers have all followed Sir Joseph Ward's lead, viz., Hon. W. D. 8. Macdonnld, Hon. A. M Myers, Hon. T, M, Wilford, Hon. G. W. Russell, and Hon. J. A. Hanan.

' ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS. No definite allocation of the vacant portfolios has yet been made. Sir .Tames Allen is not taking any more work, finding that he is already overloaded. Mr Massey is to take Finance and the police. Sir Frances Bell ia to take Internal Affairs . Jas ties and probably education. Fortunately he is not at present heavily loaded' so that he oan take more than his share of the extra work. Sir William Fraser will take Mine 0 , Mr Hemes will take Customs and Marine, and it seems likely , although no such arrangement seems to have been made, that ho will also take over the Coal Distribation. Mr Guthrie will take Agriculture. This still loaves the Post Office and the Department of Public Hoalth unaccounted for, and they have not yet been placed. Mr Masey does not intend to make any appointments to the Ministry until after he has mot his party on Wednesday. He may not then hasten to make new appointments, but he will almost certainly make some appointments then. There will probably not be 12 Ministers in the new Cabinet. lb may be that the' Ministers of the present Cabinet whe will be retiring, will not do so at once, There are questions on whioh members of tha party may wish to say something. Mr Maaaey'a majority will be a very small one. It is believed that with Mr R. Heaton Rhodes in the House he will have a strength of 42, including the Speaker. It is also fairly certain that some other members, commonly called Liberals, would not follow Sir Joseph Ward on a vote of no-confilence, but would refrain from voting. No one knows what the Labour men will do".