-MR WARD'S RESIGNATION PROBABLE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7654, 12 June 1896, Page 2

-MR WARD'S RESIGNATION PROBABLE.

SPECULATIONS AS TO THE NEW TREASURER. Wellington, to-day. A Ministerial caucus is to be summoned for Monday, when it is understood that Mr ! Ward's resignation as a member of the Cabinet will be announced. It Jb reported on apparently good authority that the Premier bos his colleague's resignation in bia pocket, but that it will not be used till after the judgment is given re the Ward Farmers' Association to-morrow. • Very great sympathy is felt for Mr Ward, but, on the other hand, some half-a-dozen members of the Liberal party insist on hia being jettisoned, in order, as they put it, to save the ship of State from being pub in a perilous position. Whether Mr Ward will also resign as a member of Parliament is an open question, but I shall not be surprised if, following the examples of the Hods. Hislop and Cadman, he does so and at once asks for a renewal of confidence at the hands of bia constituents. The future Treasurer is a subject of conjecture among members, but the choice seems to be narrowed down to the Premier and Mr Larnaon. From a thoroughly reliable souroe I learn that the Wellington and Southern shareholders of the Colonial Bank are oonsulting Mr Jelliooe as to a criminal prosecution of the directors of that institution as a result of the recent disclosures. Certain appointments made to the Bank of New Zealand during the recess are to be attaoked by the Opposition. Should Mr Seddou take the Treasurership, Ministerialists will insist on the vacant Attorney-Generalship being filled up. This portfolio is being kept dangling like a bunch of carrots before half-a-dozen Government porters. bud ■ t J