The members of the respective parties met in caucus at 11 o'clock this morning.
The meeting of the Government Party concluded shortly before that of the Opposition Party.
Shortly after 1 o'clock Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, on being seen at the close of their respective meetings, stated that they had no announcement to make at the moment.
Sir Joseph Ward added, however, that a statement would be made when the House met.
It was announced in other quarters that both parties had agreed to give the leaders a free hand, and that all difficulties in the way of the formation of a National Cabinet had been overcome.
Prior to the meeting of the House, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition had a short conference.
The first ten minutes of the sitting of the House was occupied with formal business, and at 20 minutes to 3 the Prime Minister commenced the long-awaited announcement.
Mr Massey said he did not propose to go into all the details, but he could say that some of the main points had been arranged.
He would continue to occupy the position of Prime Minister.
The Leader of the Opposition would be given control of the portfolio of Finance and Mr Allen would continue to control the Defence Department.
The representation from both sides of the house in the Cabinet would be equal.
He was not able to say yet of how many members the Cabinet would consist - that was a matter to be arranged between the Leader of the Opposition and himself.
The member at present representing the Native race in the Executive (Dr Pomare) would continue to occupy that position.
• A movement is being inaugurated in Auckland by the Victoria League to establish a club for soldiers.
It is felt that the returned soldiers have no place peculiarly their own where they may fraternise or meet their friends in the city.
The league intends to invite public support for its proposal, and will endeavour to enlist sympathy in its efforts to have organised a club that shall meet the present needs of men going to and returning from the front.
Public generosity will be called for to provide the necessary rooms or building, and to generally equip them, it being understood that nothing of an expensive or elaborate character is called for, this being incompatible with the nature of a club established during the war for the use of members of our Expeditionary Forces.
• The Saturday half-holiday does not seem to have met with universal approbation in all the centres in which it has come into force.
Two petitions against its compulsory imposition were presented to the House of Representatives yesterday.
Mr Witty presented one signed by 554 shopkeepers of Christchurch, stating that grave financial loss had been experienced by the petitioners through the compulsory closing of shops on Saturday afternoon and evening, and asking that legislation should be passed making the day for the half-holiday optional.
A similar petition signed by 517 shopkeepers of Dunedin was presented by Mr T. K. Sidey.
The Christchurch petitioners emphasised that after more than two years' trial the Saturday half-holiday had been found a hopeless failure, and ruinous to shopkeepers. - ODT, 5.8.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
