MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS ETC.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 January 1909, Page 8

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS ETC.

■ Sirlt. surely, must-have come .as a great surprise, to the country when "the apppihtm<mt of the Hon. Mr. Ngat'a :to-'the ; Ministry was announced. One wonders what his qualifications for such'- a position' are; and one can only .surmise'that it is mostly'due-to his association, with the. Chief Justice on.. (,he Maori' Councils. No great comment have_ been raised, if'-h&had ' been / merely appointed, as- an. adviser,- or perhaps, ,-more strictly; speaking,- assistant:''to -th'e' H6n. Mr - .Carroll. ''Surely the 'present "Native'.lliiister :h'as_ not. shown, such special-,, ability for - the position of,.a 'o{- r :the "Crown: as -to justify; the -. appointment. ■of 'another.'. Native. !«.#•#' where; he is 't6 'hold: offices of which- he _must be qiiite ignoriant;; and : though I'do not for 'one moment, say that 'one of Sis race shoyJd 'that office should be. confined to .the/Administration, of the: ;affairs of;ms',own:;people.*rX/;'>:;. C Tl^J^^'^^. a t," all 9the.r. Minister' should •i* 0 without-pay?-- ; No .doubt- when larliamont meets- it - will; be asked fco ;vote -& salary, apd most probably for - past: services also, and the number of paid Ministers will increased by two at least, ;which : -. would; iMlude;.th©"" present' holde'r : /of the^unpaid : reject of his own :c6nstituenoy, : if. elected for some other one. Certainly th'is: a. \ O Vs° l TG riiod cQuntry, 'and one w.onders .that it stands the enormous drain on its resources in- order; to pay,: salaries 'to "-officials : Tpho ; are_ travelling 6,ver':'each "other. in the various am';, : etc:, : ;V>-; ANOTHER, "FESTINA LENTE."