A NATIONAL MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2532, 5 August 1915, Page 4

A NATIONAL MINISTRY

The acceptancc by the Opposition Party of Mr. Massey's proposal to sink party differences and form, a National Ministry Cor the poriud uf the war has ended a situation whichi

was becoming .1 rcproach to Parliament. Nothing but inability to api predate the full gravity of the crisis with which Britain and her selfgoverning Dominions are faced can account for t-he_ delay which has occurred in arriving at an agreement between the parties. _ No member of any party has the right at the present time to consider anything but the duty he owes to his country, and for weeks past it has been plain to everyone outside the walls of Parliament that the duty of members of tho House of Representatives just now is to sink all personal and party differences, and to act in complete unity in face of tho peril which confronts the country from its foreign foes. _ It was equally clear that such unity as would free from internal cares the responsible Ministers entrusted with the conduct of the nation's share in the struggle could not be secured under existing conditions except by the formation of a Ministry which, by reason of its personnel, would obliterate all party divisions. Such a Ministry could only be formed from the ranks of tho members of all parties—in other words, a truly National Government. Mr. Massey appears to have been the first to realise this, and it is to his credit and to the credit of his colleagues tnat they were prepared to sacrifice party interests and in some cases personal advantages to better serve their country. Sm Joseph Waed and his colleagues must also be given credit for finally assisting to make the National Government an accomplished fact. The new Government, which is to be constituted with Me. Massey as Prime Minister, will, consist of ten members of Cabinet as against tho customary eight members. Five Ministers will be chosen from the present Government and five from the Opposition, and in addition Dr. Pojiare will continue to hold office as representing the Native race. The increase in the number of Ministers is justified by the fact that the part which New Zealand has been called on to play in connection with the war has added heavily to the responsibilities and to the work thrown on members of the Government. So far no definite announcement has been 'made as to the personnel of the new' Ministry. All doubts and unccrtainties ; however, will be cleared away within the next few days; and it is satisfactory to know, that whatever adjustment now takes place a Government free from the embarrassment of party warfare is assured.