The Country’s Business.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 153, 14 June 1920, Page 5

The Country’s Business.

CABINET MEETS TO-DAY.

DENNIS GUNN’S SENTENCE

APPOINTMENT OF NEW MINISTER

[Per Press Association.!

Wellington, June 14. The first full Cabinet meeting held for some considerable time wi’.l take place to-day. One of the matters to tie considered will be the death sentence of the murderer Dennis Gunn. A petition has been presented for reprieve of Gunn. Nothing yet has been done by the Prime Minister about the appointment of another minister. In the course of a few days Sir William Fraser will be retiring from the ministry and this will leave a portfolio to be a'iocsyted. No satisfactory placing of the Defence portfolio has yet been fixed, for although the Hon. J. G. Coates is acting h. 6 lifts let it to be known that he does not consider he can do justice to the big portfolio of Public Works and Defence as well. The appointment of a new minister may not oe at once, but it is generally understood that it wil have to be made before the session is far advanced. The presidency of the Board of Trade is to be taken over by the Hon. E.. P. Lee this week, probably to-day. The Prime Minister may possibly be concerned with proposals already anounced for reconstruction of the Board but he will no longer be its president.’ The coming session is generally expected to last from five to six months. Nearly every department is in need of an amending'Bill. It is practically certain that there will be aii Education Bill which is always a difficult measure to pitet through in a reasonable time. . A Railways Amendment Bui is also expected. There will be an important Land Bill to settle, and many matters which have created difficulties in Administration. FINANCE. The most difficult of all will be the Finance Bill, it being generally understood that Mr. Massey wil endeavour to remove some of the inequalities in taxation, though he is unlikely to be able to drop any revenue. Re iei given in some directions may have to be compensated in others. P. AND T. CONFERENCE.

Mr. Massey has agreed to receive another deputation from the Bost and Telegraph Conference which will probably wait upon him to-day. TEACHERS’ BURSARIES.

The Minister of Education is having regulations prepared to provide for payment or travelling bursaries to primary schools teachers. For tiie present the bursaries will only be four per annum. It is hoped the innovation will ultimately lead to interchange of teachers between the Homeland,. Canada, Australia. and perhaps the United States and New Zealand.