CABINET RECONSTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 5

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION

[Special to the Stab.]

WELLINGTON, August 5.. x There are- "rumors to-day, but no announcement. Sir Joseph Ward was closeted with the : members of the HallJones Cabinet,-the meeting breaking up without definite -result. Much talk, of course, there wasrand with that the rumors are concerned. • '■''•

The 'Post,' professing, the best information, publishes the following as the'likely list of. new. Ministers:— Sir. Joseph Ward (Southland), Prime Minister, Colonial Treasurer, - PostmasterGeneral, Commissioner of Telegraphs, and Minister in charge of the Tourist Department. • ', ' •■'.".«,

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones (Canterbury), Minister of Public Works and Railways. The. Hon. James Carroll (Poverty Bay), Native Minister and Colonial Secretary. . The Hon. J.M'Gowan Minister of 1 Mines and Justice.

The Hon. Colonel A. Pitt (Nelson), At-torney-General.

Mr J. A. Millar (Otago), Minister of Labor and Marine.

Mr R. M'Nab (Southland), Minister of Lands and Defence and Agriculture. : Mr George Powlds' (Auckland), Minister of Education and Commissioner of Customs.

It is, singularly enough, the same list as appeared by way of forecast in the Dunedin 'Star' a week ago. The city)is full of Thursday night's meeting, every man you meet 'enlarging on the dramatic* incidents, which were unusually striking and numerous. The ' Post' comments fairly thus : " The judicious and tactful speech of the mayor gave the keynote to the meeting. While lacking nothing in appreciation of Sir Joseph Ward personally, or of his public services, it made it sufficiently clear that the reception was one to which all classes w<,r" joining without any compromise' or sacrifice- of personal political convictions. A civic welcome in the Town Hall is of necessity non-political; it is free from the objections attaching to party demonstrations, and should De the more valuable and acceptable on that account. l'he spirit of the meeting was, we believe, the spirit of the country. It .is generally recognised that Sir Joseph- Ward is the one man specially indicated in the present conjuncture for the office of Premier, and the difficult and delicate position in which he is placed is perfectly understood. He has the more sympathy, inasmuch aa there is no reason to suppose that he deliberately sought, much less snatched, the Premiership. From his oto party he naturally looks for cordial assistance, and there is among Independent and Opposition members a strong spirit of fair play that will refrain from resorting to unworthy party tactics, instead of making the public interest the first consideration. Nor is anyone likely to bo so unreasonable as to attempt to visit on the new Premier all the sins of which his party has been guilty during their long term of office. No longer overshadowed by a powerful chief, and with colleagues chosen by himself, Sir Joseph Ward will have not only great responsibilities, but a unique opportunity. By his own record he must be judged, and by his own administration he must stand or falL

Sir Joseph Ward has received the following letter from the Hon. C. Mills:— "As I realise from the expression of opinion conveyed through the Press and other sources that you are surrounded by. many difficulties in the formation of a Cabinet, I wish you, so far as I am concerned, to exercise _ an absolutely free hand when nominating your hew colleagues."