CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13114, 1 March 1906, Page 5

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

STATEMENT BY MR. J. F. ARNOLD, M.H.R. ' [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Dtrxfitoiv, Wednesday. Mr J. F. .Arnold, M.H.R., replies tonight to the suggestions made by the Lyttelton Times that he was a candidate for a portfolio in the Ministry in opposi- . tion to Mr. Millar. Mr. Arnold denies that he ever approached the Premier or ! any of his colleagues on the subject of i Cabinet reconstruction, and that he stated ! publicly some time ago that he did not ; think Mr. Seddon ; would reconstruct the j Cabinet. He goes on to state that " al- j though this was .published in various j papers throughout colony, the Lyttel--ton Times suddenly comes to the same con- j clusion over two months afterwards, and tries to pi ace the responsibility upon myself and the Auckland members. Personally, while T appreciate the feeling of the Labour party throughout the colony, as expressed by a Dunedin Star correspondent, when lie says that the party look on me as their leader in the House of Representatives, I have no desire for Cabinet recognition at the present time. Indeed, I have other fish to fry. Further, if I had any objection to any other member of Parliament occupying a Ministerial position I would state so publicly, either in my place in the House, or upon the platform, and certainly would not go behind that member's back to protest against his appointment, and try by such means to strengthen my own position." Questioned as to the " other fish," Mr. Arnold predicted great things for the Labour party, and &aid he intended to devote himself to studying the interests of labour, and forwarding them in every possible way.