CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11750, 26 November 1903, Page 5

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

PBOGNOSnCATIONS OF A PAKUAMENTARY OQRRJESPOimENT. (inout.' t* "r*a nasi,") - - DUNBDIN, Ncv«ab« Sf "Will the Premier find his tupporwfi aa v dissatisfied whea PariiuMUb !•• aatambles, oe they are jntt now," M 9 question which ia being repeatedly a*fc*d» The Dunedin "Star's" ParliacoafitatT reporter eeys that many of the discontents will have returned to the fold on mm condition—? Cabinet reconstruction. Ifa» loyalty of Mr fieddoa ia beyond quaetwa, even to tho point of personal sacrifice, back will he dare floot his •upportert on the pmetnt oooasjonT Beoogniaing tka* the load be ha* to carry is impossible,' and that there will be open rebellion in the racks of the Mraietetialista) if the present position continues, the ' long-talked of Gtbiafel- xecoiistruotion will take place* It fc an* open Bccret that tbe loyalty of the Premier to hi* colleagues is reciprocated by them. Any member of the Cabinet whose preeence is considered by Mr Soddon to be inimioai to the interests of the country, or to jeopardise hie diiefs position,' ia prepared to rclinquisli his .portfolio, a Granted that there will be reconstruction, the quecUoa naturally tuggcete itnclf, who ar« to be the svapegiMitaF Lobby gossip indicate* the Commtasioner of Customs and the Minister of Lands. Their successors are difficult to indiewte. Mr JfcNab would bo a perao&a grata with both tides of tl»e Hmifcfc md \vould Undoubtedly fill a portfolio with credit. r There ,i» . only oik* dr.twbjit'b in fiontjdfritig-'hie 'pioepfctsi; lie holds different views concerning that big boiio of conwntion, the lio«uing qu«-liou, to tho majority of Minister*. It k admitted tliat when reconstruction does «vfutuat# the claims of the North letand mutt have paramount consideration. Mr Hogg ia aa authority on the land but his presence in the Cabinet would'not • meet with acceptance by the Liberal party Aβ a whole. On the otlier hand, it is inipooeibfo to find a mow tuitable Minister among die North Island rcpresaatstives. With regaM to Mr Taylor'a opinion that will be.a aeneroi election next year, or a coalition, there haa been' no dissolution of Parliameufc since the, days of the payment of members, nor.doea one is the near future teem likely to eventuate. Tho coalition idea eeeme equally jptepoeteicoe. The prob*biLitiep are that oa«oon as the Addn*w-in-Bcply fe out of tho way T the liquor queetion,. the land policy of the or some other important sub* ject, wHI be provided for the consideration of inembere, •. . .-. . ■■..,.... J- , Mr'Maesey, eaye the "St»re" wporter, has made • capital leader ,of the Oppojition. On one or two occaetone, liow-ev-er, be has lacked that fowedght witioh, if properly applied, might hare been tuned ■ to account by causing tJie Government • defeat. One inetance will suffice; had Mr „* Maasey been eufficientiy firnt/yh* .oould ' have prevented a large amount of Sapple- ; nicntory Eetimatee .being voted , without investigation bri the stroke of midnight. > Agolh, he voted against the Jbttlk of hi* euppo-rtere, eotne of whom felt'*ore esi. hi* T desertion ower the vote of 315,000 for the ' ( late Queen'e memorial {a Lonpoo, , \