THE THAMES SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 402, 11 January 1909, Page 4

THE THAMES SEAT.

7: The, Thames , seat, appears to open a pbseibie ; ,:way ;to' the .resumption ■_ by Mr. of the portfolio of Lands, at: present reposing .on the ■■ over-burdened shoulders' of the' Prime Minister. .It is recognised on all- sides that Sir Joseph Waup cannot in bo expected - to ,- permanently carry'-.but'''the duties'of all [ the; important Departments of which he has assumed the charge,- and the Lands Department appears: to be.. the one least suited to his talents. Speculation, has been'-keen as to :his reason for. .taking over the control of that Department, and the opinion is widely held that the arrangement is merely a temporary one. We are inclined to agree with,this view. : / When the portfolios;in the reconstructed Cabinet, wore allotted, Ministers knew .of: the .retirement; of.;" Mr. : M'Gowan, and no .doubt, considered, the .possibility of '.■.MeV. M'Nab making a re-entry into public .life through, the medium'of the, electors of tho Thames.' ..In, the nothing could ;be more reasonable than that the portfolio/Of Lands should be so allotted that in this event of Mr. M/Nab. successfully, contesting-the Thames seat he could again take charge of his old Department. One objection to this theory was the fact that Mr. M'Nab. was said to be. reluctant to seek re-election..: This'idea seems to be wrong.', Mr. , M'Nab, judging by his remarks to' a Dominion representative''yes-, terday, will not thrust hinisolf forward, .but provided that he is a?ked to contest the seat he, will probably do so, , The objectionmay.he raised that in the event of success Mr. M'Nab could not be given the portfolio as it would mean adding.another Minister to a Cabinet already, up to its full strength. , ; Possibly, however, this difficulty could be overcome without serious trouble. , /Mr.; Caurqll might be induced to' follow the .example: of : Me. M'Gowan, and so create a, vacancy. The situation, is.ap interesting one to students of politics!' '-.■;":.- ',;;'" ■' \:. : .■•*'•■ : .