THE CABINET

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 12

THE CABINET

FILLING THE VACANCY

COMPLICATIONS OCCUR

SELECTION PROBLEM

An early" announcement: of the appointment of a new Minister to. succeed the Hon. W. Downie. Stewart may be expected. ■ The Governor-General will leave "Wellington next Monday on his way to Samoa, and the Cook Islands, and it is likely that the n(jw member of Cabinet will be sworn in before then.

Close? secrecy ; is still being observed as to. the intentions of the Government, but it is known that the task'of making the selection has not been -without its complications. It was .confidently predicted some time ago that the choice would fall on the member- for Chalmers (Mr. A; E. Ansell), but it 'is now suggested that Mr. Ansell's chances are^not as bright as .they were.1 If territorial considerations are taken into account, the new Minister will be a. South Island member, but it is said that, this consideration may be discounted. In addition to Mr. Ansell, South Island members -who are supporters of the Beform Party are Mr. T. D. Burnett (Temuka), Mr. J. ; Bitchener (Waitaki),. •Mr. J. Hargest (Invercargill), Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Kiccarton), and Mr. K. J. Holyoake. (Motueka). Messrs. Hargest and Holyoako are both political novices and are not likely to be considered for Ministerial office yet awhile. Mr. Bitchener has been a loyal' party man for a.number of years and is. senior Whip of the Reform Party. Mr. Kyle has riot hesitated on occasions to criticise the Government strongly and even to vote against it, and thismay prove a stumbling, block to his preferment. North Island members who are considered to be 'in -the running are the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Wair'arapa), Mr. J. A. Nash. (Pa'lmerston), Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke's Bay), and Mr. W. P. Bndean (Parnell). Should the Government . decide, to appoint a 'lawyer to take over the Attorney-Generalship, at present held by the Prime Minister, the choice -would no doubt fall on Mr. En- ! dean. " "•. ■; [. ' ■ ■ ■' :.:

The possibility of dissension in the Coalition ranks if the appointment made is not approved cannot lie overlooked, and; it is stated that indication's haye1 already been given that•'if the appointment goes to'a junior member of the Reform Party—Messrs. Ansell and Endean are both comparatively young members—there may be trouble in the camp. This possibility may lead the Government, to compromise on the appointment, of one of the older members of the /Reform Party. ', ' , . ■'-■,