THE NEW MINISTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 1

THE NEW MINISTRY

SIR JOSEPH’S NEXT TASK SOME PROBABILITIES (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. Now that the Government has been defeated, Sir Joseph Ward will he sent for by the GovernorGeneral and invited to form a Ministry. At the moment, therefore, speculation in the lobbies turns mainly upon the personnel of the United Cabinet and the probable allocation of portfolios. Sir Joseph Ward will be Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, that being his special province. It is expected that Mr. G. W. Forbes will be the deputy-leader of the party. He will take either Lands or Agriculture and there is a feeling that the Minister to take the other may be Ml. W. J. Poison. He stood as an Independent, but was assisted in the campaign by the chairman of the United Party executive, and sits in the second row of the main Opposition benches. Mr. E. A. Ransom is another certain Minister, who could administer either Lands or Agriculture to the satisfaction of practical farmers. Mr. T. M. Wilford and Sir Apirana Ngata are bound to be in the first Ministry, although it is no secret that Mr. Wilford would like the next appointment as High Commissioner, a course to which his party is strongly opposed, since Mr. Wilford is probably the only man in New Zealand who can hold the Hutt seat against Labour. Mr. Wilford was Minister of Justice and Marine in the National Cabinet. He probably will be Attorney-General* and Minister of Justice now and possibly also Minister of Marine. SIR A. NGATA’S QUALITIES Sir Apirana Ngata will get Native Affairs, but he is tqo good a man to be. let off as lightly as that, and an allocation, as popular as it would be wise, would be to give him Education. He is the most cultured man in the party. Mr. W. A. Veitch, a former loco-motive-driver, will be Minister of Railways and possibly also of Labour. He entered the House as an IndependentLabourite. Mr. IT. Atmore has been spoken of as the possible Minister of Education, but his qualifications for the position do not compare with Sir Apirana Ngata’s, and his recent disclosures of plagiarism in essays and public addresses have. not increased Mr. Atmore’s chances. He may be given a bunch of minor portfolios. Geographical distribution is a consideration which the Prime Minister cannot afford to overlook in appointing his .Cabinet, and Sir Joseph Ward, doubtless, will make an effort to include at least one Aucklander —probably Mr. A. J. Stallworthy—and one besides himself from Otago and Southland. Mr. W. B. Taverner, Mayor of Dunedin, is the most likely appointee. His local body experience would be valuable in administering Public Works. This makes 10 possibilities in the Lower House—Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Wilford, Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr. Veitch, Mr. Atmore, Mr. Ransom, Mr. Taverner, Mr. Stallworthj' and Mr. Poison. Defence is not provided for, but the probabilities are that one of the ten will take this portfolio. The claim of Mr. T. W. McDonald, a former professional soldier, is not being regarded with favour. Probably two Ministers will be appointed from the Legislative Council, but the position there is complicated by the absence from New Zealand of two of the strongest candidates. Sir Thomas Mackenzie and the Hon. J. A. Hanan. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Reports that Mr. Masters will be j appointed to the Council may be discounted, but if the Council is dispose:! to be critical of his measures, Sir j Joseph Ward may be forced to make I some new appointments. The majority in the present Council is, of course, favourable to Reform. If new appointments are made, Mr. T. K. Sidey, the Hon. G. W. Russell and the Hon. D. Buddo are considered to be in the running.