THE NEW MINISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1403, 1 April 1912, Page 5

THE NEW MINISTRY.

MR. ELL TO BE POSTMASTERGENERAL. THE LABOUR MEMBERS, MR, PAYNE WILL VOTE 'AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. (By Tclejraph.-Press Association.) Christchurch, March 31. Tho Hon. H. G. Ell, who was appointed a member of the Executive without portfolio, arrived in Christchurch on Saturday, and returned to 'Wellington the tamo evening. AVhilo in Christchurch Mr. Jill received official advice that ho had linen appointed Postnuslor-Genernl, and al?o (hat he had been given charge of tho National Annuities Funil. In an iuterview, Mr. Ell said that ho line! . received many congratulations on beiiis; elevated to Ministerial rank. It had been his desire to take soilio active, part in the admini."trr,tion of the affairs of tho Dominion, and therefore it was with considerable satisfaction that ho received the appointment. He fully recognised that in succeeding Sir Joseph" Ward, who was one of the leading Postnm-iers-Gcneral in tho world, and certainly the most nblo in , Australasia, ho had a very difficult task before him.

"Sir Joseph AVard, however, has left tho Department in such excellent workinß order that my work- will be considerably lightened," said Mr. Ell. "I have ;i great deal to learn, and the first tiling 1 am endeavouring to do is to gel a thorough detailed knowledge of tho Department, and of what is being done in each district. Later on I purpose visiting each centre with the view of making myself familiar witli the various districts."

Mr. Ell added (hat while in Christohmch ho had had an interview with tho Cluof Postmaster, in order to get into touch with what was boing dono ocally. Ho hoped to see tho plot telephone system installed jrf tho city, .the Chier Postmaster intended to coiiimumc.ite with Ihe tramway authorities with a view of having the 'first machine installed m tho tramway shelter. If tho matter was arranged, and Ihe public appreciated the convenience other slot, telephones would lie installed in different ports ot the city. In connection with postal aftairs Mr. Ell said that he hoped 1o see the houso-to-home (k'livery extended well out into , (-lia country 'district? so n*U give country people nil the postal facilities possible. Tho existing policy was to extend the system wherever possible nml while be did not propose to attempt a revolutionary cliaiisro- ho honed to see a grndinl extension. There were one or two other matters he had in view and h<> would confer later with tho secretary of the Department in Wellington in order to get the advantage of his knowIcilge and experience. MR. PAYNE'S ATTITUDE. "SOT MAUIiTEH TO THE WARD PARTVY , Nsnicr, jiarch 30. ' Interviewed by a reporter to-day Mr. Payne, M.P. for Grey Lynn, expressed his internum of \olingr against tho new 'Ulmimstr.iiion.

. 'lhi>, ' he said, "will give Mr. Ma.«pv ins opportunity of showing whether he is- genuine in his prafesskm of working a ens: democratic lines. If b<, puts cither Mr. \ pitch or J!r. b'ob.ertson in his Cabinet as i-olißiir Minister, ] will vole with him. This will prove to those peoplo who have been howling against mo in h-V,-.. • vnn lllat J - "'as not married to Mm ftard party, ami that I tenk the stro I did considering if to bo tho best in the interest of tho workers whom I really represent." J

mr. glover dissatisfied, auckland not adequately sepkesented: (Bj TeS(.cra D h.-SD.-.c!!il Corro.Donflent.l _ „ . Auckland, March 31. Following upon tfc ~o,v s froin Na|)iel . (hat Mr. J. Payne, Iho j.iembor for Urev J..VIIH, intends to turn another politicil s?niCTs.inl;-, and vote nsainst the, Government on the first division because no Labour member is included in the new (.abnint, comes the news of another possible, loss to (he Mackenzie party. II,•. Albert 1 dirard Glover is jiot by anv msans.pleased wit!) the brand (ry. /When smu by a -Herald" reporter on his return from the caucus, he w= not liisposod to Jisc-usr. the position in detail,' but lie gavo a frank criticism of tho new Mnustrv.

I "I am not satisfied," .Air. Glover dccliired. 'I consider -'that Auckland lias not been given tho representation in file Ministry to which it is entitled bv 'its importance, mid 1 bslieve tliat much better men lmvo been excluded by the elevation to Cabinet rani; of men who have not nearly such strong claims, to tho honour " J he question now is: Will Mr. Glover back his dissatisfaction by changing sides? MR. MILLAR'S PLANS. ■ MAT REMOVE HIS HOME TO AUCKLAND. (By Telecrabli.—Special Correspondent.! Auckland, March 31. ■» A - I 'r^ Klld '', rc I ,ol ' lcl ' is informed that 31 r. Millar will probably address his conslituunts upon the political situation be- . fora next session; also that he is considering Auckland (is a placo for his future residence, and thai: it: is very probable that .Mr. Millar will remove his homo to this city. • SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY. A DIVIDED CABINET. (By TeleKrapli.-PrcEs AEGOciation.) ir rr „ ~ s,l-atfol "tf. March 30. Mr. W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) and Mr. J. B. Hino (member lor the district), with visiting menioers of I Parliament, were banqueted last night at Ivunuratnhi, on the route of the Stratfordla Koura railway,' tho party being the first passengers to go through" the Whaugamomona (unnol. They received a. good reception at tho hands of the settlers, who wero enthusiastic in their expressions of goodwill.

Speaking at the banquet, Mr. Mnssev referring lo the new Cabinet, said its members were divided on tho land question, threo being nominal freeholders and the remainder leaseholders. On no question of any importance were they united; on every possible question they wore divided; and a party divided against itsi'lf could not stand. From a party point of view this suited him admirably; from a patriotic point of view it did not suit him, as such an Administration was not likely to do any right or proper thing. However, it was not likely to remain ii! offico long. Mr. Masscy left Stratford for Wellington to-day. PRESS CRITICISMS. "AN ILL-ASSORTED GROUP." The Cliristcliurch "News" remarks in an editorial that if there were any possibility of the Mackenzie Ministry commending itself either to Parliament or to the country, it might be worth while discussing the distribution of portfolios seriously. "But," continues the "News," "(hero is n.it. Tho new Ministry is merely an ill-assorted group of politicians, with irreconcilable- views, who have, been engineered inlo positions they have no right to occupy and precious littlo capacity to iill. The only matter that concerns the country is ho,v soon Parliament will bo given an opportunity of reviewing (lie situation ni\'l putting an end to a state of aftnirs that is merely exposing tho Dominion to ridicule and contempt. The outstanding fact is (hat, while- Mr. Mackenzie has formed a Ministry of a sort, it has resulted in the disintegration of his portv. Several members are. in open revolt, and that leaves (he now Govcvnlnont in a hopeless minority from tho first, day of Us career. Mr. Millar, Mr. I". M' ICenzie, Mr. Clark, and probably several others, will not have anything'to do with the new Government, nud it cannot hope even to carry a motion for adjournment on the day Parliament meets, except wilh tho acquiescence of its opponents. It. is a serious perversion of constitutional procedure, therefore, lh.it Mr. Mackenzie urn! his ciilli'iii-iM's, who do not represent either tin- will of fln> House or nf ||i© people, .should he left; in undisturbed con-ti-ol of tho public funds nlmost to tho verv last day, some, three months houco, that they cau legally disbuiM them, , , ,".

'A' CURIOUS COMPOUND.

I Alter muok travail," eays tho "Rang* nkei Advooata," "the remnants of Wardism liavo produced a Ministry of Political Nonentities which is also a curious < ompound of conflicting elements, lcaschaliici a and freeholders, extreme Radicals a;ul Conservatives. Of courso such .% cqmhino cannot last, or give any satisfaction u any party, and it is therefore uselo?') to discuss the qualifications, or lack of ciualiiicntious, of nny of its members. It is noticeable that nil the old material uf the Cabinet lxis been rejected, ami i!r..i is a brand-new article. With the I'rimo Minister have disappeared Sir James C-.ir-roll, und Messrs. Millar, B, M'Kenrc, Buddo, und Ngata, mid it mny bo taken for granted Iliat somo of these will no longer give support to the party, which will therefore bo in a hopeless mincriiy. ]t has also yet to be seen whether this self-iiindo M'inistrv will bo allowed to exorcise power till Parliament has considered the appointments."

THOROUGHLY DISINTEGRATED. Tho announcement of thn new Ministry has bora received by the public witli mixed feelings. "Nobody," says tho "Wai✓arapa Age," "seems to regard it. as other than a stop-gap Ministry—a combination, nrraiib'iul with a view to attempting to create solidarity in a parly which i 3 thoroughly disintegrated. So many influences of ii minor character havo been at work during tho last few days, that it was for a time thought the now Prime Minislcr had a hopeless task before him. It is known that the Hon. T. Mackenzie desired to retain in the Ministry at least two of his former colleagues. A small party of Independents and Labourites, however, insisted that there should be a .clean sweep, and tho Prime Minister, to save himself irom immediate defeat, has yielded to tho piwurs brought upon him by a few irro:piiusihles. In some quarters it is alleged that thn Ministry lias not been constructed by Sir. Mackenzie, but by Mr. L. M. l*itt, who has suddenly assumed n position in politics which is as unique os it is paradoxical. That a man who went to Parliament as an Independent, and subsequently lauded the virtues of tho Ward Administration to (lie skies, should be Insistent upon tho rojoclion o) almost every member of tho Cabinet, is too humorous for words." THE LABOUR. PARTY. Ono member nf tho Labour party was, it is said, invited to join the Mackenzie Ministry, but declined on the ground that the new Cabinet could not represent the Labour interests. In view of the fact that three of the Labour representatives wero present when the Prime Minister wai elected, it can hardly lx> s:\id that tho Laljour parly has not affiliated with the Liberals. No mailer what opinions they may hold of the new Prime Minister, tho Labourites have deliberately thrown ill their lot with him, and they must now make the best of their bargain—"Wuirn. rapi A|jo."