THE CABINET.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18591, 16 January 1926, Page 12

THE CABINET.

[NO MINISTERS TO BE DROPPED. THREE APPOINTMENTS ONLY. THE PROBABILITIES DISCUSSED. TO "the press.") WELLINGTON, January 15. Soon the many rumours that have been in circulation about Cabinet reconstruction will give place to the authoritative statement of the Prime Minister himself. Almost till now Mr Coates has kept his own counsel, and possibly until the last clay or two some of his own colleagues did not know his actual intentions.

It is safe to say, however, that the 1 rumours that have been in circulation, and some of the suggestions that have been made, and are still being made, are of the most improbable nature. Of [ the possible appointees suggested by t unofficial Cabinet makersthere has been ■ no end. Their names extended oven to those outside Mr Coates's own Party. 1 There have been also prophets who predicted tho retirement from office of half tho present Cabinet., but Mr Coatea is not tho kind of man ruthlessly .and immediately to cast aside thoso who have borne tho heat and burden of the battle with him in days when tho Party was sorely in need of reinforcements. If, as may be possible, Mr Coates now selects from his following two or three of the most capable to join him in tho administration of the country's affairs, there will be a sufficiency of new blood, at least for tho time being. At the beginning of a new session of a new Parliament it would be inadvisablo to have in the Cabinet too many Ministers with an imperfect knowledge of the Departments they are administering. If, as is quite possible, further changes are to be made, they can very well be deferred until a more oppor\ino moment. Possible Ministers. In the selection of members of a Cabinet there are other things besides administrative ability to be considered, and, unfortunately perhaps, in New Zealand, geographical considerations cannot be altogether ignored. For the present the South Island may have to be content with one new appointment, tho.ugh sooner or later a second portfolio will no doubt go to the South. In this connexion the name of Mr David Jones, the new member for Ellesmere, has been most frequently mentioned, and it will be no surprise to those versed in Parliamentary affairs if he is selected. He has undoubted administrative ability. In a former Parliament he proved himself a man With sound reasoning powers, and a most forcible debater, whose speeches were 1 always effective. Possibly, however,- Mr Coates may also have an eye on Mr Prank Eolleston, the member for Timaru, who also has made his mark as one of the younger men in Parliament. Mr Eolleston is well versed in the law, and he is also a thinker. So far he has been a nonparty man, and one with rather radical and decided views, attributes which, however excellent in themsleves, may sometimes prove a handicap to political preferment. But the more one considers Mr Eolleston's qualifications, the more one realises that they might justify his selection, if not now, at least later on. If there is only one South Island appointment to be made at present, the selection should, lie between Mr Jones and Mr Eolleston. [ The Hon. E. P. Lee has also been mentioned as a possible new Minister, but ! he has arrived at a time of life when he may not be keen to burden himself again with the cares of office, and it is understood that he is anxious spon to

pay a visit' to the Mother Country. North Island Men. Coming to the North Island, one looks immediately to Mr Hawken, the member for Egmont as a possible Minister. His speeches in the House have never been of the flashy type,, but have shown ljim to be a man of very sound judgment, with ability above the ordinary. He ia also a popular member, and his inclusion would be welcomed by the agricultural and pastoral community, upon the welfare of which New Zealand so greatly depends. Mr Young's name has also been mentioned as a possible Minister, but it is not at all certain that he will be relieved of his present position as Chairman of Committees. Other potential Ministers ftom the North whose qualifications cannot be ignored are Mr K. S. Williams, the member for the Bay of Plenty, and Mr Hockly, the member for Eotorua. Mr K. S. Williams is one who has not bden much in the limelight, because he ia not given to making long speeches in the House, but anyone who takes the trouble to listen to what he says, and most people do, must realise that his sentences are the product of clear thinking and very sound judgment. Ho 1b one who has' no enemies in the House, and troops of friends in the country, and he is the one man in the present Parliament who was returned unopposed, a tribute alike to his straightforward-

ness, Ma popularity, and his tiound common sense. Rearrangement of Portfolios. It may be taken for granted that there will be an immediate rearrangement of portfolios, with perhaps a further rearrangement later on, as other new Ministers are appointed.. It almost goes without saying that Mr Downie Stewart will be Minister of Finance, and that Mr Coates will regard him as his first lieutenant. Mr Stewart is slowly but surely improving in health, and m the certainty of Mr Coates having to attend' the coming Imperial Conference in London, Mr Stewart may be found in the place of honour &s Leader of tlio House, so that the session may run its ordinary course. The strength of the Reform Pafty in the House is now such that there need be no occasion for a short session because of the Leader's temporary absence from the country. For Mr Coates is not faced with the difficulties against which Mr Massey had to contend on the occasion of the last Imperial Conference.

Prime Minister's Heavy Load. Apart from finance there must certainly be some further readjustment of portfolios. JSneijgetio t>nd untiring worker though he is, Mr Coates must be relieved of part of the burden he at present carries, and it has been suggested that Mr McLeod may take over the Department of Public Works. Mr McLeod is one of Mr Coates's most trusted colleagues. Be has made his mark in the House and the country as a man of- capacity and energy. In the Lands Department Mr McLeod has had a day and night job, especially because of the difficulties that have attended the successful settlement of soldiers upon the land. The situation has improved under his administration, but the position is still such that much personal attention must be given to t.ViA details, of individual cases. Ths

Department of- Works is now .on a sound basis, and running so smoothly under .effluent officers that the burden of Ministerial administration has been lightened. It is, however, a question whether Mr McLeod could undertake this work as well as what he has on hand, m which the Prime Minister might look about him for a new Minister of Works, such as Mr Hawken or. Mr Williams It has been suggested in some news-, papers that Mr Coates will hand over «+£ ad ™. n to some other Minister, but this is highly improbable, as a present change would T a PP in ß Worses in ««* i* this