MINISTERS AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 10

MINISTERS AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

. THE PORTFOLIO OF LANDS. SOME OPINIONS BY THE PRIME MINISTER. Speaking in the House yesterday, the Prime Minister alluded to the criticisms that had been passed upon himself and his Government in regard to his holding the position of Minister for Lands. in the course of his remarks, Sir Joseph said that he fully recognised that thoro was a limit to every man's capacity. At the same time he did not recognise the right of the Leader of the Opposition to tell him how the Government should be composed or what portfolios should bo set aside for certain members of the Cabinet. When the Leader of the Opposition suggested how the Ministry should be composed he surely realised that he was interfering in a matter with which he had. nothing to do.

Mr. Massey: Oh, haven't I; don't you make any mistake about that. (Laughter.)

Sir Joseph Ward: .Well, the hon. gentleman is entitled to his opinion> An lion.' member: Hear, hear. Sir Joseph Ward: But I want to n'nf out that I am entitled to mine, lelieve if his opinion was purely disinterested that one would consider it more fully than when it is made with the object of bringing chaos and discontent into the community and the Ministry, and drawing others into his own impossible fold. ' ' ■ Mr. Massey: Why, even the Government- papers stated that I deserved a vote of thanks for calling attention to the position. . . Sir Joseph Ward: No doubt the hon, gentleman deserves it, but I don't take his advicu. ' Mr. Massey: That's your misfortune. Sir Joseph: It is strange that when he gets to out-of-the-way places Mr. Massey declares that there are' better men on his side than on the Government side. Mr. Massey: But that is a fact. Sir Joseph; Tho country does not believe it. Resuming, Sir Joseph said that'the weakness, of Mr. Massey's statement was that he made it himself. It was better to allow the: people to settle the question at the' -ballot-bos. How the portfolios should be distributed was a matter i'or the Government. He. wished to say that he had never. professed to be an expert in anything. Exception must, however, be taken by him te\u statement on tho previous sitting day by Mr. Russell,' to the effect that at present there was no Minister \ for Lands. Any one of his colleagues could qarry on the portfolio, but for thoir own reasons it bad been agreul that for tho present he should hold it. Mr. Russell was quite wrong •in . supposing that ho had not tried to" do his duty as Minister for Lands. With the advice of the Departmental .officers, notably Mr. Kensington, he had been able to keep matters from lagging. _ He knew better men had preceded him in the position, and that better men would follow him. It was necessary, . also, that ho should ssiy a word or two with reference- to the theory put; forth by Mr. Massey that to be a successful Minister for Lands a man must ; :have. been a farmer. '

■ Mr. Massey: You are quite right. Sir Josuph: Then that means that a Minister for Railways ought to' have been a railwayman, a Minister for Education a teacher, etc. . Mr. Massey: A Minister -is .all tho butter for experience. Sir Joseph: I know hundreds of farmers who would not accept the.position. ■ Continuing his remarks, the Prime Minister declared that according to this theory neither Mr. Massey nor himself should have, voted on questions nifecting the social life of the ■ country be-' cause they were not women.' (Laughter.) It, was a well-known fact that some of tlie most capable bank and railway managers at Home had no experience in banks or railways until they were over fifty : years of age. At. this stage, the Prime Minister was interrupted owing to the fact that his time was up.