THE NEW MINISTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 5

THE NEW MINISTRY

MR. BALLANCE'S CABINET. AN AUCKLAND MEMBER NOT YET SELECTED, EXPECTED PROROGATION. THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT. (BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT], Wellington, Sunday. Mr. Ballance's new Ministry was sworn in at 3.30 p.m. yesterday as follows Mr. Ballance, Premier, Treasurer, Native Affairs. Mr. Buckley, Attorney-General and Colonial Secretary. Mr. John McKenzie, Lands and Agriculture. Mr. Seddon, Mines and Defence, and possibly Public Works. Mr. W. P. Reeves, Education and Justice. Mr. Ward, without a portfolio. The " unexpected" in regard to the new Government is Mr. Ward's inclusion without portfolio, as there was a strong impression on the other side of the House that the link which connected him with the Ballance party was of the frailest description, and might not improbably be severed when once the Atkinson Ministry should have been ousted from office.

The new Ministry appears generally to be viewed with a good deal of favour. The exclusion of certain members who were regarded as sources of weakness, yet at the same time inevitable, has created both surprise and pleasure. It is understood that two of these voluntarily wrote to Mr. Ballance, waiving any claims they might have. This, of course, cleared the way materially. These particular persons were looked on as likely to be bitterly offended and hopelessly alienated by their omission from the new Cabinet, while the new Premier could hardly venture to include them. Another point in Mr. Ballance's favour was Mr. liees intimating that as he didn't concur in certain features of the new Premier's native policy he preferred not to hold a portfolio. As Mr. Rees had been looked on by many as a not improbable Auckland Minister, this act of selfabnegation removed another stumblingblock from the path of the Cabinetmaker. The Auckland seat in the Cabinet is still unfulfilled, but I shall have something to say on that subject later. The Governor will formally declare to Parliament on Tuesday through the customary medium of the " speech from the throne," the reason why he had called Parliament together. Mr. Ballance informs me that on the House resuming after the delivery of the speech from the throne he will make a Ministerial statement, setting forth generally the views and intentions of tho Government in regard to public business, and that notice will then be immediately given of the address-in-reply to ho moved on the following day (Wednesday). All this is plain sailing enough. It is what is to come after. That is the troublesome question. The Ministerial side desire to prorogue ( directly after the address in reply shall have been agreed to. April is commonly mentioned as the period to which the House would in that case prorogue, as the current appropriations have effect only until March 31. But others advocate a better time of meeting, namely, May, one special provision being made with reference to the necessary carrying on of the public service. Tho general opinion, however, seems to be that Parliament, if it prorogues or adjourns now, should meet again in April as originally arranged. The Opposition party are disposed to resist the proposed prorogation as involving the unwarrantable expense of two sessions, while a mere adjournment would avoid that heavy extra cost. Then contend, however, that so long a delay as three months is wholly needles" and unjustifiable, and that Mr. Ballance ought not to be accorded a longer time than was given to Sir H. Atkinson in 1887, viz., a fortnight, which, it will be remembered, was only conceded with much reluctance and grumbling as unnecessarily expanded. The Opposition insist that there is no valid reason why the public business should not be proceeded with after a fortnight's adjournment, and that in any case tho holding of a sccond session would bo a piece of mere wanton extravagance, merely for the purpose of putting so much more public money into members' pockets ; indeed, some of those who are loudest in their advocacy of a prorogation and second session, instead of adjournment, frankly admit that they want the extra honorarium to go towards their election expenses. A sharp debate on the Address-in-Reply is expected, and may last several days, but the new Government arc sanguine that they will be able to bring the session to a close by the end of the current week.

Nothing lias yet been decided as to the selection of the Auckland member of the Cabinet, but the choice now lies betweon .Mr. Goldie, Mr. Cadman, and Mr. Kelly. The new Ministry are naturally anxious to conciliate the Auckland people, and although they recognise that no member has a greater claim on the party than Mr. Cadman in consequence of his loyal and consistent support, the difficulty is that he would not be as thoroughly representative of the Auckland district generally as Mr. Goldie. This being so, it is quite on the cards that the vacant portfolio may be offered to that gentlemen provided, of course, that he is inclined to ally himself with the new Government party. It is stated also that the Ministry recognising the demand for economy that still prevails in the colony, but more especially ! in Auckland, will endeavour to curtail the public expenditure as much as possible. If this should prove to bo the case they would secure a tower of strength by the accession of Mr. Goldie who during the whole of the last Parliament was regarded as the High Priest of economy. He has undoubtedly, judging by his utterances in the House, made himself thoroughly conversant with the whole question. At the same time, if Mr. Goldie should join the Ministry, it will create consternation in the ranks of the Civil Service, as he is credited with having in preparation a somewhat appalling scheme of retrenchment, which lie is desirous of carrying into effect if it is possible to do so. Mr. oldie is expected to arrive here on Tuesday. The fact of Mr. Ward, the member for Awarua, having joined the Ministry, although without portfolio, will certainly tend to strengthen their position. Mr. Ward, who is the head of a large mercantile establish in Invercargill, held a prominent position in the House during the last Parliament, and generally showed in debate that he possessed a good grasp of public questions. He is also exceedingly popular personally with both sides • . the House, being invariably courteous towards his opponents as well as those on his own side in politics. [by telegraph.— association.] I Wellington, Saturday. The policy of the new Ministry is anI nounced generally as reform of Council, ' retrenchment, and change in the incidence f of taxation, not necessarily, however, by the abolition of the property tax. The sixth place in the Cabinet is left vacant for an Auckland man. Mr. Goldie will be consulted on his arrival. Messrs. Kelly and Cadman are the two possible Ministers. MR. GOLDIE, M.H.R., AND THE MINISTRY. On receipt of the telegrams from Wellington last evening stating that there was a probability of Mr. Du'id Goldie, the member for Newton, being the Auckland representative in the new Ministry, a Herald representative interviewed Mr. Goldie on the subject. That gentleman stated that he had received no communication from Wellington respecting the matter, and that if he were offered a portfolio ho would decline to accept it. He states that he wants nothing for himself, and his district wants nothing. His hope of doing any good in the Assembly for the country is in trying to get together a Middle Party which will hold the balance of power, and compel the Government of the day (whoever may be on the Ministerial benches) to conduct the business of the country with a due regard to prudence, economy, and financial safety. Mr. Goldie loaves for } Wellington to-day.