NEW GOVERNMENT THE CABINET LOBBY OPINIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1912, Page 8

NEW GOVERNMENT THE CABINET LOBBY OPINIONS.

When the House of Representatives met this afternoon the Hon. T. Mackenzie announced that he had tendered hie ' resignation to His Excellency the Gover- '. nor, that it had been f acoepted, and that .* Mr. Masaey had beeu sent for. j . Mr. Maseey -states that after he an- ' nounces the personnel of the new Government on Wednesday, he will ask for an adjournment until about the end of the month, •to give him ' the necessary time to formulate his policy. A 6 to what that policy will be he says that he - is not likely to depart in any respect " from the principles he has .all along enunciated, with, of course, necessary ■modifications and elaborations. Any policy measures introduced by the mem- . bei» of the outgoing Government will be carefully considerd, and if it is thought -advisable, they will be included in the „ Government programme. 7 PERSONNEL OF CABINET. 34r. Massoy declined to make any •- statement as to the personnel of the • Government that he is about to form. .It is, however, generally considered ' that a general understanding exists as to the members who will fill the more important portfolios. As to Mr. Her•ries, it ie likely that his absence lrom - New Zealand (he is not due from England until Wednesday in the lonic) will necessitate Mr. Massey informing the House that he has had to leave one portfolio vacant until he has had an opportunity of consulting with his now absent colleague. As to the "certainties'.' of the new Ministry, it is likely that some slight complication will arise. Mr. J. Allen is generally regarded as the coming first lieutenant of the head of the Government, and that he will take the portfolios of Finance and Defence. It is, however, in regard to the portfolio of Railways that the difficulty will occur. If Mr. Allen is to be regarded as the . Prime Minister's first lieutenant he may • expect to get the important portfolio, - but Mr. Herries is the one member of ~*the late Opposition who has specialised r'rn railway, and his claims to that port- ■ folio are pronounced^ - Mr. W. Fraset's claims to inclusion also regarded as undeniable. He is - looked upon as one of the most careful critics of either side, especially in regard to finance, and his utterances are always listened to with respect and attention. Another certainty is Mr. Herdman, '. whfle Dr. Pomare, for many years head ,of the Native Health Department, who successfully contested the Western Maori seat against Mr. Kaihau, will be appointed member of the Executive representing th» Native race. Of th» other Ministers, it is understood that whoever is appointed to the position of Leader of the Upper House will have a seat in Cabinet, and in this connection the claims of Mr. John Duthie and. Mr. H. D. Bell have been prominently mentioned. Mr. R. H. Rhodes, as Senior Whip of the party, is regarded as another certainty, and it is also definitely stated that Mr. Fisher will achieve Ministerial rank — it is said as Minister for Labour. Probably the West Coast of the North Island will fur- . nish another Minister. The claim* of Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford) and Mr. Okcy (Taranaki) are being canvassed. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER. It hae been freely stated that the Hon. T. Mackenzie is- to be offered the position of High Co mmifisioner. Mr. Maesey's attention was drawn to the statement by a. Post reporter to-day. It had, he said, reached hie ear*. All he could add was that the fining of the vacancy was one for the new Government. MR NGATA. Some comment has been made regarding the absence of Mr. Ngata from Parliament during the crisis. Mr. Te Rangihiroa informed a- Post reporter today that he had been in communication with Mr. Ngaca all the time. Apart altogether from the fact that there are only two steamers a -week from Port Awanui, the fact is that two of Mr. Ngata's children have been seriously ill, and it was not until a very few days ago that the doctor pronounced them out of danger. He arrived by thit> morning's express from Palmerston.