THE NEW CABINET

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8171, 12 July 1912, Page 1

THE NEW CABINET

SETTLING DOWN STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. Matters political—or rather parliamentary—are in abeyance for tho next three weeks. The old order lias passed away and the new has yet to take definite shape. Tho House unhesitatingly agreed to a three weeks’ adjournment, to give Mr Massey and hie Cabinet time to become acquainted with their respective .departments, and to formulate their collective policy- The time asked for is generally considered reasonable, in view of the fact that not a single member of the Cabinet has over held a portfolio. Tho task tho Government has in hand is acknowledged em ail hands to be a difficult one, and, if the- now. Opposition care to bo carping critics, may prove almost impossible. It is conceded on all hands that with one exception Mr Massey has chosen tho strongest possible Ministry from his party. Tho exception may prove dangerous. The Minister in question but recently publicly announced that tho Masseyito ideals are not his, and that ho would 'never join a freehold administration. It is apparent that he has altered his views• on those points, and this fact is much criticised by-members of tho; House and tho public. Possibly ho may have some explanation to make later on. What tho new Government will do in tho matter of tho appointment of a High, Commissioner and in filling tho vacancies in tho Legislative Council is causing some speculation. In regard fo tho High Cominissionership the names of Sir ..William . Russell. and tho Hon. T. Fergus, an ox-Minister, of tho Crown, are mentioned. New councillors may include Mr John Dutliie, ex-M.P., Mr C. A Of Hardy, exjphief Opposition whip, and Sir William Russell (if ho is not appointed High Commissioner), The lobbies were, deserted yesterday, but Parliament Buildings will bo kept open in all' its departments during the adjournment.* MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. In conversation with a reporter last night tho Prime Minister said nothing had yet been .done in regard To. dhe appointment of a High Commissioner, ft was not .likely, that anything would be done for a few’, days rtu. The Government had not yet considered the appointment of Chairman of Committees. , In regard to the ' control of Parliament Buildings Mr Massey said it. was proposed to again' give tho Speakers of the two Houses control of the internal administration - of Parliament Buildings. That right was formerly exercised, but was* taken away many years ago. and Cabinet considered it. should bo restored. As to Parliament Buildings Mr Massey said no decision had yet been' arrived at. He bad'asked Urn Minister for Public Works, to obtain a report from the department as to' what bad been and wbatnvas being, done, in order that Cabinet might have the' fullest information before it when- considering what steps were being taken. . Asked whether Mr W. H. Herries, who arrived from Homo (yesterday, had Accepted tho portfolios allotted to him tho Prime Minister replied in the affirmative. It was proposed*-to- appoint a tenth Minister. , Some difference of opinion existed ns to tho interpretation of the Legislature Act in. that particular respect, and the subject bad been-refer-red to tho Crown Law Office for a report- Tn any caso the .'appointment would not bo made "for some” time. CUSTOMS T A RUFF STATEMENT BY MR FISHER. A' statement was made by flip Hon. Mr Fisher (Minister of Customs) :3ast, even-ipg-'that owing to tho uncertainty’.which existed -in - tho minds of (importers throughout the Dominion upon ,tho ques-‘ tion of amendment of tho Customs tariff," Cabinet has decided that during the coming session of Parliament thej-o would bo no amendment of the Customs’ tariff. This statement was made .'solely. ‘With a view to allaying tho of importers, whoso .business might bo affected by tho uncertainty ’ created by\ public statements that had been made recently in tho House. \ In the meantime the Minister of Customs is going into tho correspondence with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth regarding the reciprocityiprpposals which have been put forward- by the Australian Government. ( —: . \ ( POSTMASTER-GENERAL \ CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, i I Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, the new " -Post-master-General, in common with other Ministers has .received many -congratulatory telegrams', on his appointments One of (he messages reads: ’’May yOnr record be as creditable as your famous namesake, Henniker Heaton.” Mr Rhodes remarked to a reporter that he had met Sir Henniker - Heaton, and be modestly added that he could’not aspire to such eminence as ho had attained. / BOAT DRILL LIFE SAVING AT SEA. , , At the -invitation of ■ the Union . Steam Ship Company the Minister of Marine (the Hon. F. AI. B. Fisher), accompanied by the ex-Minister (Mr G. Laurenson) and Messrs Atmpre, Coates,. and - Isitt witnessed yesterday an exhibition of boat drill on, the Mararoa, The vessel cast off at about T p.ml and’steamed towards Somes Island. At a given • signal all hands turned out and took their respective stations. . Six boats were, lowered simultaneously,’ three from each,side of the .steamer, the whole operation .occupying between five and six minutes. The boats, pulled away and were subsequently picked up again. (The exhibition was both (interesting and instructive, tho crow working in' harmony, and with the utmost'. dispatch. Before the Mararoa left Ihd wharf the guests were entertained at luncheon on board by the Union Company. At the conclusion of drill Mr Fisher complimented the crews on their efficiency. Tho important question of lifesaving at sea, he said, • would re.

ceive careful • attention from the new Administration. ; CABINET MEETING - NOTHING FOB PUBLICATION. Cabinet met last evening, the sitting lasting for about two hours. At tho conclusion the Prime Minister informed- a “Times” representative that there was nothing for publication. The High Commissioner had not been appointed. A DEPUTATION TO • POSTMASTER-GENERAL. • -'A. deputation consisting of Moser* F. J. Monk ancTA. C. Renner, of Kaikoura, waited upon the Hon., R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-General yesterday, -in regard to the Puhi Puhi private telephone line. , Mr R. McCallura, M.P. for Wairau, introduced the deputation. • Mr Monk pointed oiit that there were nineteen ..subscribers on tho line,, and sfeven more were prepared to join as soon as the Government extended the line‘six miles. Tho department desired the subscribers to divide themselves up into groups of six. Although the department held a contrary opinion thfc subscribers found that a line carrying nineteen telephones worked satisfactorily. They desired sixteen subscribers on tho line and ten on tho other, which would •bo a cheaper arrangement for the department. " • ~ In reply the Postmaster-General said the hack-blocks settlers to their efforts to get. improved communication had hia sympathy! He promised to go into the matter with his officers, and if possible arrange that sixteen subscribers be on the one wire. AUSTRALIAN OPINION “NO BARGAINING FOE OFFICE.* By Telegraph—Press Association—. Copyright SYDNEY, July 11. Commenting on the political situation in New Zealand, Hit- “Daily Telegraph" says; "Solidity seems the distinguishing characteristic of the new Government in New Zealand. Mr Massey has formed a.Cabinet from ills own party; ethically that, is a good sign, since it proves that there has horn no bargaining for office. How it turns out politically is what we have to see.”