MEETING OF CABINET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 16 May 1925, Page 5

MEETING OF CABINET.

DATE OF CAUCUS NOT DISCLOSED. CABINET VACANCY NOT FILLED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 15. The Prime Minister, Sir Francis Bell, states that a Cabinet meeting whs held today to discuss arrangements for the Reform Party caucus at which the new leader of the party will be chosen. The date has not been, disclosed at. present. Sir Francis BelL says he has no intention of filling the Cabinet vacancy caused by Mr Massey’s death. Presumably that will be left for the new leader to do when he takes office as Prime Minister.

PARTY CAUCUS SOON. The “Standard” is authorita lively informed that a caucus of the Government will be called at an early date' to consider the definite appointment of a Prime Minister in succession to the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey. . THE TWENTIETH PREMIER. THIRTEEN YEARS IN CABINET. NEW ZEALAND-BORN MINISTERS. The Ministry formed by Sir Fiancis Bell is the 34th since the establishment, of responsible Government in New Zealand in 1856, and he is the 20th Prime Minister. The new Ministry is distinguished by the fact that for the first time a native-born New Zealander has become Prime Minister.

Except the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who was born in* Bendigo, Victoria, all the other are also native-born New Zealanders. Sir Francis Bell and Sir Mali Pomare are the only members of Mr Ms ssey’s first Ministry who have been continuously in office si pee its formation in t fuly, 1912. Sir Heaton Rhodes was also a member of tha< Administration but retired to facilitate

the formation of the National Ministry in 1915; he returned' to the Cabinet in July, 1920. Sir James Allen retired in April, 1920, to become High Commissioner in London; Sir William Herries and Sir William Fraser both died in 1923; the Hon. A. L. Herdman is a Judge of tho Supreme Court, and Mr F. M. B. Fisher ie in England.