The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3436, 30 January 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1912.

Rather Premature!

We arc surprised tluit so much discussion should Rather Premature! hare been evoked by the recent rumor, that the personnel of tne first Massey. Ministry had already been settled. According to a contributor to the “Auckland Star,” who claimed to speak with authority, it was asserted (it will be remembered) that Air. Massey would, in addition to becoming Prime Minister, act as Minister for Lands and aLso be Minister in charge of the State Advances department. Associated:. with Air Alassey was to be, first, Air Kerries as Minister for Railways and Native Alinister. Then it was conjectured that Air Herdman would be Attorney-General and Aiinister for Justice. Tire portfolios of Labor, Afarine and Customs were (it cuS alleged) to be entrusted to Air. Fisher. As to the positions of Postmaster-Gen-eral and Alinister for Internal Affairs it was surmised that Air Rhodes would be asked! to fill them. Air Allen (it was declared) would be made Alinister for Finance and Alinister for Defence. Other portfolios were to be occupied as follow : Air Thomson, Education and Alental Hospitals; Air. Fraser, Agriculture and Alines; Air Hine, Public Works. Dr Pomare (according to the same authority) was to be made a member of the Executive Council without portfolio. Now tile first tiling that must strike one as lining very strange about the whole matter is that it involved the supposition that Air Alassey would be so indiscreet as to “'settle upon’’ his colleagues before he has been even called up-on to form a Alinistry. Everybody who knows Air Alassey knows full well that it is a thing he ■would not bo likely to do. Then again is it not equaly strange that the personnel of the “first- Alassey Alinistry” should appear first of all through <-iie medium of a journal which is behind the present Government! Of course it is all too unlikely. When Air Alassey forms his first Alinistry it will, we feel sure, differ in some important respects from the one to which we have been alluding. Air Harries and ' Air Herdman, we should say, are bound to be associated with Air Alassey as representatives of the North Island in any such Cabinet. Wellington, it is almost certain, will, however, not have Air Fisher as a Alinister as well as Air Herdman in a similar capacity. But as to who will be the other North Island Alinisters —who could possibly forecast the position, with -accuracy? As regards the South Island represent-atives. it is, perhaps, not improbable that the authority ia question may prove close to the mark, for, in addition to “choosing’ 3 Alessrs Allen and Fraser —two of the most experienced members of the Reform Party—he has added the names of Air Rhodes, the only successful Opposition whip, and really the only likely Canterbury representative in a Alassey Alinistry, and Air G. AI. Thomson, -who, although not yet a great success as a politician, is possessed of brilliant educational attainments. So much as to the supposed personnel of the first Alassey Alinistry. But what about the distribution of portfolios? This is bound to be no light task, and, we should say, is not likely to be settled at all until the inevitable want of confidence motion in the Ward Administration has been disposed of.