CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10621, 17 March 1896, Page 2

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

Wellington, February 20.

The Cabinet sab till lata last night diacuißiDS! the vacancies in the Ministry, butag replies had to be awaited the final decision was not known till after midnight. Mr Carroll takes Cabinet rank with the portfolio of Commissioner oi Stamps. Mr Hall-Jones, of Titnarn, becomes Minuter for Justice. The Hon, W. C. Wsikot takes a test .in the Cabinet without portfolio, Mr T. Thompson, of Auckland, has been offered a eimilsr position iu the Lower Houae. This arrangement of portfolios is temporary, being subject to readjustment at a future mesting of the Cabinet. The question of the Attorneygeneralship was heid over for further consideration. . ■' .

The New Zealand Times states that there is no fouudation for the report that Mr Carroll intends to abandon the Waispu seat and contest the Eastern Maori constituency. The Government have not jet had a reply from T. Thompson, bnt he is on bis way down from Auckland,

It will ba recollected that Mr Hall-Jones wa» tho whip to the Ballance Ministry.

Febrnary 2£ Me Thomas Thompson, who arrived from the north last night, had a long conference with Ministers to-day, acd decided to accept the offered seat in the Cabinet withont portfulio; 0 bat it is understood he will shoitly be given harge of the Industries aad Commerce dop«itroent.

(Fbom Odb Own Cokresponbent ) Wkixinqton, February 20. The news of ths reconstruction of fl;e Cabinet, so far as it has gone, has teen received here with apathy tempered by contempt. It has been for days an open Eecrefc that the Cabinet has beau hopelessly divided upon the subject, and tha appointments that have so fat been made oro looked upon as a compromise between the cortteradiug parties within tha Cabinet itself. Acart from this, since a mediocrity of the ps-rtr had to be accepted, it is supposed that the ptonotmced opinions of Mr Hall-Jones upon- the temperance question and the estimation in wliiflb. he i» held by prohibitionists helped his selection. On the other band, Mr Tliqmss-. Thompson, who is an accredited friend iff the liquor party, is, together with AaoHi-.ud, to be placated if poasiblo with:ofnes witkmit portfolio; but; rumour has it that Mr Tiwmwon may prove implacable, and that he has not only cot yet signified his acceptancs of office, but is on his way hither to personally express his reasons why. Ao to the Attorney-generalship, since there are now the sit Ministers provided by Etafats, and ths position lately held by Sir Patrick Buckley cannot bs filled without violation of the law, it is reasonable to presnrus that tb?xe will shortly. be auother vacancy in the Cabinet, which will remove this difficulty. If so, for th« office of Attorney-general it is freely stated that the selection of the Cabinet wiil lie between the Hon. W. D. Stewart *nd Mr Gniuness (Hio Clnirman of Committees), and that the former will almost certainly be appointed, since he has the support of the Premier. If this provs to be tbe caw, and Mr Seddon ignores tha long-tried and loyal party services of the member for Grey to raise to office a gentleman who cannot clf-ira to hftve rendered to the Liberal patty either service or allegiance, then ho may look for reprobation and resentment from some among his fofloweis who htvo hitherto supported him with nr> deviating coastancy.