THE CABINET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 23 June 1896, Page 2

THE CABINET.

RE-ALLOTMENT OF PORTFOLIOS. A ONE MAN MINISTRY MR CARROLL STILL DENIED CHARGE OF NATIVE AFFAIS. THE ATTORNEY -GENERALSHIP. (Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, to-day. Ministers have for some days been engaged ia the task of Cabiuet reconstruction, and I learu on good authority that portfolios have been allotted as follows ; — The Premier will take the position of Treasurer, Postmaster-General, Minister of Customs, Minister of Native Affairs, Minister for Labor, and Minister in charge of the Government Life Insurance Department, but resigns the portfolio of Defence. The Hon. Mr Thompson will be Defence Minister in addition to his present portfolios of Justice and Police. The Hon. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, will also have charge of the Government Priuliug office, and be Minister of Marine. The Hon. J. McKenzie, Minister of Lands, will be in charge of the Advunces to Settlers and Public Trust Departments. The Hon Mr Cadmau continues as Minister of Mines and Railways. The Hon Mr Carroll will be Colonial Secretary. The Hon Mr Walker will bo Minister of Education and have control of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Departments. As to the Attorney-Generalship, one section of the Cabinet appears to think that it is unnecessary to appoint anyone to the portfolio, but that the precedent of some years ago, when Sir James Prendergast was a membor cf the Executive, without holding a seat in Parliament, should be followed by the position being bestowed on someone outside. Another section hold that a member of the House should be appointed, in which case the choice will lay between Messrs McNab and Guinness. The probabilities are that salaries will bo given to Hons Walker and Thompson. Aal mentioned fome months ago, the Hon Mr Kelly will probably bo called to the Kxecutive without portfolio to assist the Minister of Education in the Legislative Council. It will be seen from the abovo that all the revenue produciog portfolios aro being taken over by the Premier. My prediction that Mr Seddon would become PostmasterGeneral and Commissioner of Telegraphs is also verified.