THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 23 August 1919, Page 8

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

REARR A NGING PORTFOLIOS

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The sequel to the resignation of the .Liberal Ministers is that the work of administration will have to be apportioned among those remaining. Sir James Allen has already more than a comfortable load with Defence, which has sub-departments bigger than some of the regular departments of State, sand he is not being asked to take any bigger burden. The Prime Minister, it is understood, will take Finance and Police; Sir Francis Bell, Education, Internal Affairs, and Justice; the Hon. "W. H Hemes, Customs and Marine, and probably Coal Distribution; Sir William Fraser, Mines, and the Hon. P. Guthrie, Agriculture. This leaves the Post Office and Public Health not accounted for,i and it is understood "that they have been replaced. The Above allocation is not final, but Mr Massey is certain to take Finance. It is not expected that new Ministers ■will be appointed till Mr Massey meets the Reform party on Wednesday of next week. It may be that he will not hasten to make appointments even after that, and in any case he will be <jmte unlikely to appoint a Cabinet of twelve Ministers.