ANEW CABINET

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 9

ANEW CABINET

LOBBY ANTICIPATIONS MINISTERS NUMBER TEN FOUR SEATS FOR REFORM UNITED RETAINING FIVE TARANAKI MAY HAVE TWO (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The procedure followed in the formation of the Coalition Cabinet is not dissimilar from that adopted in 1915,' when the exceptional circumstances of the state of war gave rise to the setting up of the National Government, which held office until the end of 1919. After the numerical size of the new Cabinet has been determined and the basis of party representation arrived at the resignations of those present Ministers who are not included in the selections for the new Ministry will b. formally tendered to the Governor-General and will become operative. His Excellency will then administer the oath of office to the new members of the panel and the coalition will be an actual fact. It is plain that the details of the coalition have not yet been determined in the negotiations between the two par-, ties, but already there is a great deal of speculation as to the probable personnel of the new Cabinet. There. is ground for believing that a reduction will be made in the numerical strength, though the extent is not at the moment apparent. Lobbyists confidently anticipate a reduction to ten Ministers as follows: — Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister. Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Public Works. Hon. W. ’ -wnie Stewart, Finance. Mr. D. Jonc3, Agriculture. Mr. R. A. Wright, Education. Mr. A. E. Ansell or Hon. W. A. Veitch, Transport. Hon. S. G. Smith, Labour. Sir Apirana Ngata, Native Affairs. Hoh. E. A. Ransom, Lands. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. There is some doubt, however, as to whether Mr. Wilkinson aspires to office, for he declared in reply to an interjection in the House this afternoon that it Lad no attraction for him. It is suggested that Mr. Coates will act as leader of the House.