The Waikato Times. THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1906. THE VACANT PORTFOLIOS.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8062, 22 November 1906, Page 2

The Waikato Times. THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1906. THE VACANT PORTFOLIOS.

Tim death of tlie Hon. Albert Pitt, Attorney-General, Colonial Secretary liijil Minister for Defence, creates a vacancy,' in tlie Cabinet, and there is naturally considerable speculation as to upon whom the choice ol the Government will fall. The three portfolios held by the deceased gentleman are all of an important nature, and would leouire too large an expenditure of time lo (suable them to be undertaken by the remaining Ministers, in addition to those they already hold. This is 111 one respect rather unfortunate. The Hon. Robert McNal), Minister of Lands, possesses all the qualities essential to make a highly successful Attorney-Geimral. X barrister of wide experience, and a man of hicrh literary attainments, he is. eminently fitted for this portfolio! His time, however, will be so fully occupied for some months to come with the lain! campaign that even bv reliiujiiisliiiio- one of the important portfolios be holds at present it would not be fair 10 ask him to

undertake the Attorney-Generalship. But the task of finding a suitable Cabinet Minister will perhaps not be so formidable as that of providing a leader for the Legislative Council. Colonel I'itt had 110 lieutenant in the I ppei House, and it is here particularly that the Government will feel his loss. Among the names mentioned trom whom the linal selection will be made are those of the Hons. I. Kelly, W. F. C. Carncross and T. Kennedy MacDouald. the chances of the latter being generally considered the brightest. -Mr Kelly is a wellknown Taranaki member, who has lent the Government valuable support 011 several occasions. Jt is doubtful, however, if he possesses the qualities that make for success in a leader. The same applies to Mr Carncross, who has been a well-known figure in journalistic circles in Otago and latterly in Taranaki, for many years. On the whole the chances of Mr Mac Donald are the brightest He is an astute business man, and his would probably be as hopeful an appointment as could be made in the Chamber. The Government will probably go outside the Legislative Council for an Attorney-General. Writing 011 the subject, the Wellington correspondent of the llerald said : There are three factions in that ( hauiber, the old Conservative element with .Mr Ormond as leader, the Liberals with Messrs MacDouald and W igram as prominent figures, and the Radicals led by Mr Uigg. It is reported that Mr MacDouald is not a candidate for Ministerial rank. Messrs H. J. Wigram, T. Kelly, and Carncross would probably rank first amongst claimants already in the Council. Failing to find a Minister in the Legislative Council, as at present constituted, where is the Premier likely to look for a colleague r Will lie look tor an experienced politician who has been in enforced retirement, or will he appoint an untried man ? The name of Dr. Findlay has been mentioned amongst those who have discussed these questions. Dr. Findlay has long been a prominent figure in Liberal and Labour circles, and he has identified himself very closely with the Government party iu Wellington, advocating its policy with voice and pen." Dr. Findlay, it is confidently expected, will sooner or later, be appointed to the Council, but his inexperience would probably preclude his selection for the vacant ollice, unless he were given a colleague well versed in Parliamentary procedure. It would not be easy, however, to find a suitable colleague for him. in other respects Dr. Findlay is admirably litted to till the position, and his appointment would be hailed with satisfaction.