The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1925. "WHO WILL GET PORTFOLIOS?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10189, 29 December 1925, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1925. "WHO WILL GET PORTFOLIOS?

With the opening of the new yea: excitement in political circles will I revived on account of the promise t Prime Minister Goates to re-consiruc his Ministry as soon as possible aftc the holiday season. Mr Coates, ; may be recalled, remarked rc-centl that he would not make his Cabine selection before Christmas, adding facetiously, that he did not wish t spoil anyone’s Christmas dinner! I so happens, of course, that the nei Premier has no need to study th feelings of any of his supporter. s seeing that he has such a large nun: her from which to choose at least tw new Ministers, if not three. Wha is most gratifying in regard to thi important matter is that Mr Coate is under no obligation to bargai: with political opponents for their sup port by offering any of them a port folio. It is plain that, as far as th Lower House is concerned, two posi tions must be filled—that of Si Heaton Rhodes, Minister for Defence and that of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie formerly Minister for Lands and, lal torly, a member of the Executive Council, but without any port folio. As is well-known, neitlie of these gentlemen stood a the recent General Election and botl are now members of the Uppe. House. If it be true that Sir Jamei Parr, at present Minister for Jiistiei and Minister for Education, is It succeed Sir James Allen in the Higl Commissionership a further Minister ial vacancy will have to be fill ed. In the Upper House, Sii Francis Bell is to retire from active politics and that wil mean that Mr Coates will also require to appoint a new leader in that Cham her, who, it may be taken for granted, will also be given the Attorney Generalship. No hint has. as yet, been thrown out as to who will sueceed Sir Francis Bell,' but it should come as no surprise if Sir John Find-

lay be re-appointed. The position in regard to the Lower House Ministerial vacancies would, to some extent, he clarified if it were known whether or not the Hon. C. E. Statham can reckon on being reappointed Speaker when Parliament resumes in the middle of the year. Mr Statham, as is well-known, w?is given the position of Speaker at the wish of the late Mr Massey, in order to assist in providing the Reform party with a majority. In the ciicunistances, Mr Statham has a strong claim to re-appointment, hut it remains to he seen if Mr Young will be

given that important post instead o a portfolio, which,' for some years he lias so keenly but, so far, unsue cessfully sought. Those in the nu* ning for Ministerships, in addition t< Mr Young, are Mr Lee, who wa: formerly Minister for Justice, am has now regained tlio Oamaru seat Mr Hockley, the member for Roto rua ; Mr K. S. Williams, the membei for the Bay of Plenty; Mr D. Jones, member for Ellesmere; and possibly Mr F. J. Rolleston, the somewhat Independent member for Timaru. Wc should not he at all surprised, in the event of Sir James Parr securing the High Commissionership, if Mr Lee again becomes Minister for Justice, with control also of the Department of Education. The chances of Mr Williams being appointed Native Minister also appear very bright, seeing that a separate appointment to that position would relieve the Prime Minister of much of his Ministerial load and Mr Williams would be an assured success in the position. Mr Hockley could reckon on securing the chairmanship of committees if Mr Statham has to forego the post oF Speaker in favor of Mr Young/ It will be generally held that Mr Jones is more likely than Mr Rolleston to fill the remaining vacancy in the Cabinet.