THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Thursday, November 26, 1908. THE CABINET VACANCIES.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12409, 26 November 1908, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Thursday, November 26, 1908. THE CABINET VACANCIES.

Speculation is rife throughout, the Dominion as to the members upon whom /the choice of the Government will fall in filling the vacancies left in the Cabinet by the appointment of the Hon. W. Hall Jones to the High Commissibnership, and the de■'feat ; at -Mataura of . the. Hon R. McNab. Prior to .the . elections one or : two members were' freely. : spoken of as practical certainties for the Ministry, and probably this inspired; to some degree, the handsome majbri•ties .whh which: they were returned. One of these was tlie - member . for \Lyttelion, ;.';'-- Hi '- ; George Lailr©»^on, 'whose" claims', however^. seem to have, suffered a relapse -in, public estima"tibn since the -elections. . ; ; The star ' "of, Mr Thomas Mackenzie : appears now .to be in the ascendant, and it is -^confidently 'anticipated in usually : welli informed quarters .that . he willM the portfolio of Lands. Mr Mackenzie :is a freeholder, while' " Mr Eaurenson: -holds very pronounced viewß on v ;the ; leasehold question, and is also an ardent advocate of single tax. His elevation to Cabinet rank at the present time would probably be embarasßing to the . Government, . and as the head of the Lands Depart- 1 ment he certainly would not be-ac-ceptable to the country. These considerations are not- present to. hinder the promotion of Mr Mackenzie^ whose appointment., while being a satisfactory solution of the difficulty as far as the Government is concerned, ... would be agreeable also for the most' part to. -the country. For the second vacancy the chances of theHon. A.. R. .Guinness, Speaker of the House of Representatives,, are being, freely canvassed, and in .the event of the selection falling upon him, it is considered probable that Mr F. E. Baume, K.G., member for Auckland East, will assume .the Speakership. In any case there will be a consider-; able shuffling of portfolios. -It has ..been suggested that Sir Joseph' Ward I may again take control of the Railway Ifepartment, but this isinpt-prd--ibableV;^'lt'is more: likely- that- ; the, Hon Mr Millar (Labour and Marjne),will take. Rail way s, his present de-. partiments... being placed- .under the: ;carje' of ,the second new Minister.- : It' is likely that; the Hon James. McGowan will ; take the portfolio '-. of /Public Works, the Hon. Dr Findlay, K.G.j (Attorney-General) taking- charge of, the Department of Justice: " . arrangements woiild make, the 'best use of ihe immaterial > availaible, '. : and .provide efficient heads for all departments. : The appointments anticipat- ~~ tedt wpjJd[rteep the .representation of the two" Islands on ' the Executive equal, with four ' Ministers apiece. TMr Roderick' McKenzie, . member; for" 'Motueka, has been frequently mentioned as a probable future [ appointee to the Cabinet, and in. the event" of the present anticipations "being up--set, it is difficult to see how the ■Government can overlook his claims ■ among .those of the. South Island "members, and few of the present -iniembers would >be fitter,- than Mr |McEenzie\to fill successfully the portfolio of Public Works.