THE CABINET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 4, 4 December 1931, Page 6

THE CABINET

INCREASED NUMBER UNLIKELY. MR COATES’S CHOICE OF MINISTERS. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 4 Speculation has commenced regarding the filling of the Ministerial vacancy rendered by the defeat of Hon. 1). Jones, though it is certain that no action will be taken until the official declaration of the Mid-Canter-bury poll following a recount places the result beyond all doubt. It is suggested that the Government’s complete endorsement would justify an enlargment of the Cabinet, but this can be ruled out at present while conditions call for the utmost economy and the financial position, instead of improving, has so tar as State fusds are concerned shown a further decline. The reappearance of Mr A. D. McLeod, a former Minister of Lands and ex-chairman of the Reform Party, raises a complication for his leader, whose appeaF he ignored in contesting Wairarapa against the officially endorsed United Coalition candidate, Mr T. AA’. McDonald. . However, this delicate point might be offset by the Independent United defeating the Reform Minister in Mid-Canterbury. The circumstances connected with the formation fo the Coalition Cabij net last Septemebr must be regarded as an important factor in Mr Coates s decision regarding his new Ministerial colleague On that occasion Mr R. A. "Wright, a former Minister of Education in the Reform Cabinet, was wen in the running for appointment, but, in the opinion of the rank and file of the -party, he was only just beaten at the post by another ex-Minister, Hon. J. A. Young. On the present occasion, Mr AVright, who has retained his seat by a solid majority while the Labour Opposition was improving its position in the surrounding constituencies, must be regarded as the first in line for Ministerial rank. Another prominent possibility, though his name on the former occasion did not figure publicly, is Mr C. E. Macmillan, member for Tauranga, while Mr A. E. Ansell (Chalmers) and Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) must also be included among those whom Mr Coates will consider. If the Reform leader takes this opportunity of one of the strongest grounds of criticism of the present Cabinet —that it is too overwhelmingly representative of farming interests —Mr AA right will be his choice.