THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8667, 6 July 1906, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

I CABINET GOSSIP. tFrom Oira Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 6. In th© political world there are 6till whispers whioh canvass the situation. Several imaginary Cabinets hare been arranged, but, as they lack the staying power of the last regime, it is unnecessary to detail them. The most persistent curiosity centres round the question of who will be the Minister of Labour in the new Ministry. Sir Joseph "Ward, everybody admits, will be unlikely to leave the Postal which has given him a brilliant European success, and he may be considered certain to keep to the railways, which are part of his reputation, and offer a great asset with their* classification t scheme. That he will be also Treasurer seems settled by these who remember I that it has lately come to be generally i accepted -that for obvious reasons the ! Treasury and the Premiership must go \ together. The deduction from all of i this is tnat-the Labour Department is not likely to fall to Sir Joseph "faard. Now that the Act of last year extends the scope of the Labour Department j vastly, the st-wtey' of the Labour I Party makes it probable that whoever has the Labour portfolio will require a i powerful Labour following. The name of Mr J. A. Millar has been mentioned, and everybody ndmits that he would make a good Minister of Labour, but the Question pvjes round •political circles, Why should not the Hon W. HallJones, who is bo strongly identified with the Labour interest, and is daily proving his capacity and strength, be regarded a« certain for the Labour portfolio in the new Ministry? The feeling is Bjainina ground that be has. fairly won the right to that -position of increasing usefulness and power. In some quarters this is regarded as a snag in the channel ; in others it is considered a sign that the situation will settle itself quietly according to com-mon-sense.