UNDER WAY!

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3573, 12 July 1912, Page 5

UNDER WAY!

COMPLETING THE CABINET MR. HERRIES TAKES OFFICE. THE VACANT PORTFOLIO. .A MR MINE OR MR OKEY ?

By Telegraph—Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, July 11. The principal incident in national politics to-day was the acceptance of of the portfolio of Railways and Native Affairs by Mr. W. id. Berries, member for Tauranga. He returned to Wellington from England by the lonic this morning. Haying accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to enter the Ministry, was sworn in at Government House early this afternoon. Afterwards the Prime Minister, Mr Berries and other Ministers lunched with the Governor. Mr. Herries has been greatly benefifed by his visit to England, and is in splendid health. In conversation with a reporter, he said that he had been much gratified at the success of the Reform party, and was proud to join a Ministry of such /strength as that which Mr. Massey had assembled. Mr. I). C. Herries, a brother of the Minister, has accompanied him, and will travel through New Zealand. A Legal Difficulty. The appointment of another Minister of the Crown to complete Mr. Massey’s Cabinet will not be made for some time, as there is some difference of opinion as to the interpretation of the .Legislature Act. The Administration that has just gone out of office, appointed two Ministers without salary, but there is a doubt as to the legality of the appointment of wliat may be termed a second honorary Minister. It is almost certain that when the vacant portfolio is allotted it will go to the Taranaki district, and either Mr. J. B. Hine (Stratford) or Mr. H. J. H. Okev (Taranaki) will be ap-pointed-more probably the former, as lie is an abler and a younger man, and a better debater than Mr. Okey.

Nsw Ministers Hard at Work. To-dav has been a busy one for the new Cabinet Ministers. There has been an extensive re-ar-rangement of the Ministerial rooms, and in spite of the inconvenience of moving furniture and similar disabilities, every member of the Government has been hard at work to-day, acquainting himself with the business of his Department, and carrying on the/administration of national affairs. For some days all the Ministers will remain in Wellington, but several of them are anticipating opportunities to visit their homes. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) expects to visit Auckland shortly on private business only. The Minister for Railways (Hon W. TI. Retries) will also visit Auckland as soon as possible, but only to transact private business. The Minister for Finance (Hon J. Allen) and the Minister for Public Works (Hon W. Fraser) intends to visit their Jinnies within the next fortnight. '*■ None of the Ministers will make j any official excursions for some time, i Reform Party Conference. The first national convention of a political character ever held in New Zealand, is being arranged by the New Zealand Political Reform League. It will be held in Wellington on Saturday, August 3. Two or more delegates will he present from each electoral district. The principal business of the conference will be to devise a uniform scheme for organising the supporters of the Reform party, in order to ensure the success of its candidates at the polls. Arrangements will probably be made to entertain the- Prime Minister during the sitting of this representative gathering of his friends. There is some talk of the Premier (Hon. W. F. Massey) and Hon. F. M. B. Fisher paying a visit to Gisborne shortlv.

EARLY AT WORK-

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR CUSTOMS. AMENDMENT OF TARIFF TO BE SUBMITTED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, July 11. A statement was made by Hon., F. M. B. Fisher (Minister for Customs) this evening that owing to the uncertainty which existed in tile minds of importers throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion upon the question of amendment of the customs tariff. Cabinet had decided that during the coming session of Parliament there will he an amendment of the Customs tariff. This statement i s made solely with a view to allaying the anxiety of importers, whose business may be affected by the uncertainty, created by public statements that have been made recently in the House. In the meantime the Minister for Customs is going into correspondence with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth regarding reciprocity proposals which have been forwarded by the Australian Government.

PREMIER AND FRONTIERSMEN. AUCKLAND LEACUE’S APPRECJ ATI ON. MR MASSEY~ELECTED HON. COMMANDANT. [PER PRES 3 ASSOCIATION 1 AUCKLAND, 11. At an enthusiastic fleeting" of the Legion of Frontiersmen to-night the Premier (Hon. W. F. Massey) was elected hon. commandant of the Auckland district.

EXIT THE LIBERAL PARTY.

DEATH AND BURIAL SCENE

A REMARKABLE .ACCOUNT.

According to the “Dominion” when Mr. Wilford, who was the last speaker on the No-confidence discussion, sat down there was a pause. Apparently all had been said that had to be said”, and nobody evinced any desire to prolong the agony. The division bell rang. One thought of a summons to judgment, of the appearance of the

nrmg party, ot the arrival of the Lord High Executioner, or some other omen of grim and inexorable Fate. Someone said, in an excited whisper: “J.here’s Millar!” ‘‘Where, where—show mo!” nJ here in the Onoo&ition benches.” The ex-Minister for Railways had been < asleep upstairs, and when the division bell rang slipped an overcoat over Ins pyjamas, and made his way to the House. The procession began —ayes to the right and the noes to the left. Mr. Millar fell into line with the Opposition members. Passing the teller, lie continued his way round to the Treasury benches, and sat down for a few seconds. A member leaned across to him: “Old friend,” he said, “I didn’t think you’d do it.” Mr. Millar made no reply, and presently came up to the press gallery, where someone greeted him with an inquiry about his health. “Getting better every day,” he

said. ‘ ‘The ayes are 41; the noes are 33. The ayes have it—unlock the doors. The Government was defeated—voted out. _ Mr. Dive, who was in the last Parliament—he was defeated by the Hon. T. Mackenzie—had been accommodated with a seat on the floor of the House. He was so overcome by the excitement of the moment that he waved his hat in the air and shout-

ed “Hooray!” an indiscretion which drew from Mr. Massey a frown of disapproval. The Ladies’ Gallery was in a state of high excitement, and the fair occupants afterwards congratulated Mr. Slassev, in the tea-roofn, where ho made them a little speechIt was now 5 o’clock, and after getting details with regard to the formalities to be observed in connection with the resignation of the Ministry, the House adjourned.

THE REFORM PARTY’S GREAT FIGHT. PRAISE FROM THE LIBERAL SIDE. The “Lyttelton Times” says:—lVe wish at once to offer our ungrudging congratulations to Mr Massey an<This friends on their victory, which, if not quite complete, is still far enough advanced to justify a good deal of gratification. They naturally are feeling that they have maintained, with undismayed enthusiasm, a long and tedious struggle against great odds, and though we differ from many of their political views, and strongly, we have j nothing but admiration for their perI sisr-ence and their courage. A party j tii n can remain out of office for twen-ty-one long years, and still fight as Mr. Massey and his friends fought up to the very hour of their success, deserves the applause, and even the sympathy, of its opponents. We are sure that the progressives, who are still in a majority in the House (and we believe in a a large majority in the country), will give Mr. Massey a fair trial if he can form a stable Government, and that they will not hesitate to accept Liberal legislation from the new Prime Minister as readily as they accepted it from Mr. Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward, and would have accepted it from Mr. Mackenzie. We do not expect to see another appeal to the electors before the present Parliament has run the ordinary course. The Liberals and Independents, who have given Mr Massey his “turn” will be anxious that lie should have an opportunity to justify their action, and, holding the balance of power as they do. they can choose their own time for sul-n itting themselves to the judgment of their constituents.