THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 12 July 1912, Page 5

THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

SOME IMPORTANT ARRANGEMENTS. WHO WILL BE THE NEW MINISTER? (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) 'WELLINGTON, This Afternoon. The Hon. W. H. Herries, as a member of the Racine: Conference, declined to take over control of racing permits, the position which was originally cast. "Until any further arrangements are made, the work will be carried on by the Prime Minister. Questioned by a. "Post" representative as to whether the Government intended to bring down legislation for the abolition of the Second Ballot, Mr Massey stated that instructions had been given to the law drafting department to prepare a Bill on the subject, but as to the direction in which legislation would go, he was not prepared to make any more definite statement. Nothing further yet had been done with regard to the appointment of another Minister. As already indicated the cho'ce appears to be between Mr Hine (Stratford) and Mr Okeyy (Taranaki), with the chances in favour of Mr Hine. The Prime Minister was questioned on the subject this morning, and pointe'. out thai when he~ was forming his 'Cabinet the'choice rested with him. Now that the ifia-binet was actually constituted all further ■ appointments would have to be made by "Cabinet, and not by himself. So far nothing had been done. The Prime Minister went on to indicate that necessary steps were being taken to prepare a legislative programme to be submited to Parliament on resumption. He was nob going- to say anything about the details of the programme, but he made it quite clear that the Government _ had made lip its mind -it would not adjourn until it had carried out its legislative indentions.