THE NEW MINISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1488, 10 July 1912, Page 4

THE NEW MINISTRY.

The unofficial list of the new Ministers, which we publish this morning, will probably be found to be correct. The allocation of portfolios may be a little different to that set forth, 1 and Mr. Heeries no doubt has yet to be consulted, but, generally speaking, the Massey Ministry may bo expected to bo very much as stated. Ono additional member has yet to bo appointed, and he will probably be tho representative of some country constituency. Assuming the Ministry to be as stated, it will be seen that it is a strong combination. It contains several members possessed of long experience in Parliamentary matters; it has a progressive element which gives assurance that the new Government will move briskly along with the times; it embodies a strong country section familiar with the needs of the man on the land; and it includes the two soundest members on financial questions to be found in the present Parliament. In the Upper House it will be represented by a gentleman who will command the respect and confidence of that Chamber, and who should prove. of particular value to the Government in connection with the framing of its Legislative programme. There are members, no doubt, who might have been included with advantage , whose names do not appear in the' list. That, perhaps, was inevitable with a'party Containing, as tho Reform party does, so many men of parts. In selecting his colleagues, Mk. Massey, wo assume, has been influenced by the fact that there will be a great deal of cleaning up and straightening-out to be done in the administrative methods introduced by his predecessors in office, and he has accordingly taken caro to ensure' that he will have with him'men "of sou nd judgment and wide experionce. It only remains for the party to stand loyally by their Leader, as they have dono in the past, to enable tho new Ministry to show what it is capablo of, doing. Of course the opponents of tho party will do their best to sow dissension amongst any members; who day have felt that their claims were greater than those who have beon called to office-that is, if there are any of the Reform party who would descend to making such complaint. But on the wholo we are inclined to think that the mischief-makers will find it rather difficult to pick holes in the new Ministry, and tho public, at any rate, can be relied on to welcome it and give it a fair trial;