POLITICAL NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9799, 8 May 1924, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS

POSSIBILITY OF DISSOLUTION.

MEMBERS OF CABINET ILL,

NEW MINISTER FORESHADOWED

MR. A. D. McLEOD’S CLAIMS

' WELLINGTON, May 7. Hie possibilities are that Parliament will meet about the usual time'during the'last week in June. The session should ho an interesting one with parties constituted as they are, the Government having only a small majority over the >ombinatioh of the Liberal Opposition and the Labor Party. There is always the possibility of an adverse vote, which would in all probability involve a dissolution and an early appeal'to the country. For some time past the opinion of those who ought to be Lest able to gauge the situation is that the Government would come back from sucli a contest with an. increased majority and that Labor would strengthen its position in the House to the extent of ousting the present Liberal party from the Opposition benches. Such an event would bring nearer the day when the Dominion would find itself with the two-party again in existence. The fact that two members of the present Cabinet are at the moment in indifferent health must inevitably lead shortly to a re-distribution of portfolios.

Sir Heaton Rhodes has been urged by his medical adviser that lie must relinquish his Ministerial work for the time being on account of heart trouble, so he wil 1 take a month’s holiday at his home near Christchurch. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, though considerably improved in health, is still far from strong and it would be inadvisable* for him to attempt the work of a strenuous session in charge of the. departments he at present deals with. Under these circumstances it seems inevitable that another member must be appointed to take a seat at the Cabinet table. The one man who stands out conspicuously as marked for the now portfolio, is Mr. A. D. McLeod, member lor Wairarapa. Mr McLeod is not only a man of great force of character, sound sense and honestv of purpose, but lie is also ,i forcible speaker. In debate in the House he often hits hard, but lie docs not hit below the belt and this, combined with Ids courage and frankness, has gained him the esteem of his political foes, including the Labor members, who on occasions ho freely castigates. Mr McLeod would make an ideal Minister of Lands. He has been on tlie land himself all his life, and knows New Zealand conditions. The question of the appointment of a new member of Cabinet, of course, rests with the Prime Minister, and so far lie lias given no indication as to what is in Iris mind. Should, however. he decided to hand a portfolio to Mr McLeod there will be not the least doubt that he would receive the unanimous support of the present members of the Cabinet in regard to his doing*so.-—Special. > " WELLINGTON. May 7.

Sir TJeaton Rhodes, Minister for Defence, who has been ordered by bis medical adviser to take complete rest, leaves Wellington for the South Island to-night, and will he away for some weeks. Meanwhile his various portfolios have been allocated as fellows: Forestry, Sir Francis Bell; Defence, Hon. AY. Downie Stewart; War Pensions, State Fire, Government Life insurance Superannuation and Friendly Societies, the Hon. C. JAnderson.—P. A.