POLITICAL PROPHECIES.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13656, 25 August 1916, Page 4

POLITICAL PROPHECIES.

DISTRIBUTION OF PORTFOLIOS! THOSE IN THE RUNNING.' WJiLLINGTOX, 'August 22; The temporary rearrangement of portfolios made necessary by the Hun. W. V. Jlassey mill Sir Joseph, Ward's impending departure for London lias been the subject of linu-li discussion and speculation. Here it is taken for grantI'd that the Hon. Jas. Allen will be Acting-Prime Minister, but it is expected lie will eonfer.witli.il Minister from the other side ; in politics, probably the Hon. J)r MeNab or the Hon. G. W.' Russell. l.)r McXab is the higher of the, ( two Ministers.on the list of precedence, and he may be appointed Mr Allen's I consulting colleague, but Mr Russell's activity and administrative achievements gi,ve him a special claim to consideration, and he cannot be regarded as out of the running. Whoever is selected, doubtless, will be appointed Acting-Postmaster-Geueral. ■ Other predictions are that Mr Myers will take the portfolio of Finance, Mr Mac Donald that of .Industries and Commerce, and Sir Francis Bell that of Lands. •,•'•' Sir Francis Bell's-appointment, if made, will be due to the fact that he lias lately been assisting the J'rinie Minister in Hie administration of the Lands Department,