CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12715, 29 January 1906, Page 2

CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.

NEW MINISTER iFOR LANDS

SPOKEN OF.

OTHER CHANGES PROBABLE

A correspondent, who has recently reitfuraed from a visit to Wellington, and ■who is usually very well informed as regards political matters, writes to the " New Zealand iHerald" as follows regarding a probaible reconstruction of the 'Ministry at an early date:— " It ie mow, co I learn from good authority, pretty -we'll settled, pending confirmation toy a caucus, that the member for the Egmont constituency (Mr Jennings) is to 'be the new -Minister for Lands, and that tihe Hon. T. Duncan's recent trip through Westland •with the Premier <wae meant to prepare him for the ' purer atmosphere' of the Upper Bouse. It lie said tlhat Mr Duncan, cannot well reconcile himself to the freehold, which is looked upon as a certainty during next Parliament, and that the new Lands Minister must be a Government supporter sound upon freehold tenure, and not a recent convert. There is a growing and pressing demand amongst iGovernment supporters themselves for tihe immediate and satisfactory solution of the Crown, and native lands difficulty. I heard an ihon. gentleman say myself that it'he map issued toy the '-New Zealand Herald' and the ' Weekly (News/ on November 23, 1905, showing in 'black the locked up native and drown lands, was an object-lesson, an eye-opener and a stumtoling tolook to every Government supporter. This necessitates the appointment of a progreissive and able Minister for Lands from the Auckland province or near it, to aUay the increasing apprehension and uneaainesa amongst Government supporters themselves, in regard to land tenure and to ithe native and Crown lands problem. " Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.R., is looked upon 'as a certainty, subject to confirmation by the caucus, for. the Ministry, and dt as said (Mir MaNa'b may become Government nominee for chairmanship of committees.

" There is also a strong and general feeling atooligst the few that know that, politically and Ministerially, we are upon the.eve of some great and mysterious constitutional change, some political or 'Ministerial surprise that has ; so far, never 'Been guessed at or anticipated, but I cannot gat the strength of it. I fancy, however, that Government mem!bei"is have 'been sounded recently 'by the various Ministers personally in regard to Ministerial amd other •changes. I have good reason to believe this. I would incline to the conclusion that it all means the aJbolitaion of the Upper House, only that 'I have also heard on ■mcst reliable authority that four Aucklanders are to 'be called to this Chamber in the near future, most likely Messrs. ■Nerheny, Robert Thompson, Wi Pere, and some Waikato fasiner (Mr J. B. Teasdale, fltfr .William Johns, or 'Mr W. W. McOardle). Sir Wiiiam Russell will also be ' approached' on this business, so it can Ibardly 'be the abolition of the /Legislative Council, but it may be the entire modification of it, as Sir J. G. Ward recently hinted at. " The Oommiesion to regulate the next electoral boundaries will most like-

ly eetaiblish a goldfields oonstituenoy, •which will include Waihi. Owing to the increase of the Crown lands population, •and a still likely further increase when various other parits or© settled, tihe old Waipa electorate will most likely toe reestablished, JEtuntly, Morirtinsville, Waitoa, and Wad'hiou to be put into Waikato. *

"The tail of the large Government majority 'is looked upon as likely to 'become unwieldy and hard to manage, hence many judicious 'and conciiatory changes and reforms."