THE NATIVE PORTFOLIO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6768, 4 September 1893, Page 3

THE NATIVE PORTFOLIO

APPROPRIATED BY MR SEDDON. (parliamentary reporter.) Wellington, to-day. It is definitely understood that the Premier will take the portfolio of Native Affairs, which will probably mean that Booner or later Mr Cadman will take that of Public Works. As the iVitive legislation proposed this session is some of the most important that has ever been before the House, the new hoMer of the portfolio will find that he has a very difficult task before him, which his inexperience of Native affairs will nob in any way lighton. Mr Seddon has placed on record his emphatic opinion that he would not set his worst enemy to frame a Licensing Bill, but he will probably add this similar opinion respecting legislation on Native affairs. There is also this peculiarity in the matter that there is at present no such thing as a Native Department, the lands purchase section having been merged into the Lands Department and the rest into the Justice Department. The Premier will, therefore, have to recreate the department if he wishes to administer it, and this would be entirely opposed to the avowed policy of this and the Ballance administration. Under he Railway Bill, which, however, is not likely to be carried this session, the portfolios of Railways can follow that of Defence, which the Premier would still hold. Mr Seddon is very anxious to get command of the railways, bub this would probably mean extinction before very long of any Minister ■who secured the portfolio on a basis of control. The Department is one in which thers are too many openings for patronage and pressure to be a safe one to hold on political lines. Id, l hear on uudoubted authority that Mr Cadman is unwilling to accept any portfolio other than Native and Justice, which he held prior to his resignation. So far bo overtures have been made to him, but it is likely ho will be approached to-day, •when his smswer will be in the direction indicated. He says that unless good grounds are shown why Mr Seddon should become Native Minister he will not agree to accept the other portfolios mentioned.