POLITICAL NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 June 1924, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

g. CABINET REVISION. A STRENGTHENING PROCESS. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, July 20. One of the earliest cleA'elopments of the coming session will be Ministerial rearrangements of a type described by one Minister as a strengthening of the Cabinet. It is expected that the Premier Avill make an announcement on the subject next week. He is carrying a heavy load personally, and the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands and Minister in charge of Soldier Settlement, is in such poor health that it is considered unfair* to ask him to continue at high pressure, because it may permanently impair his health. As previously indicated, a new appointment to this portfolio is likely. There will he other rearrangements. When the lion. J. G. Coates was appointed Minister for Railways it was expected that he would relinquish' the portfolio of Native Affairs, but he has retained this, together with Railways and Public Works, altogether too "large a portion for any one individual, especially as Railways and Public Works are the most important spending departments of the State. The railway staff troubles and the development of a highways policy considerably increase his responsibilities, and* therefore it is probable that Mr Coates wi 11 be relieved of Native Affairs.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINT-

MENTS. , A few nominations to the Legislature Council will soon be announced but they wi 11 be., strictly limited. One name most prominent is that of Mr A. S. Malcolm, formerly member for Clutha, and ex-Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives. The Council is numerically at a loaa' ebb, and given a full muster it comprises 40 members but will actually total 34 unless fresh appointments are made, as Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the Hon. James Craigie, and the Hon. E. Newman are in Engl land, the Hon. Mr Mitchelson at Honolulu, and the Hon. G. M. Thomson will attend the scientific conference at Honolulu in July. PRIVATE BILLS.

An unusual number of private Bills have to be dealt with this session. Three relate to Romaji Catholic trusts, the Bishop of Auckland and Dunedin a_nd the Archbishop of Wellington being the promoters. Another seeks to incorporate the committee of management of the Rhodes Trustees, and the sixth is a Bill to incorporate the Spiritualists Church of New Zealand. These measures involve extensive committee proceedings and incidentally the Parliament Library will benefit by the fees payable, which will total £l5O.