The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1915. THE NATIONAL MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2534, 7 August 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1915. THE NATIONAL MINISTRY

—; ■? Broadly speaking the personnel of the new National Ministry leaves little room for criticism. Both parties are represented by members who are recognised as being entitled to places on the front benches of their respective sides of the House, and all have had previous _ Ministerial experience. Tho allocation of portfolios, too, is on the whole satisfactory. Those who might bo inclined to view with doubt the placing of the financial departments under the control of Sir Joshph Waud should bear in mind that tho Finance Minister in tho National Ministry just created will find little scope for financial wizardry. It fortunately happens that Mr. Allen, prior to the war, had been able to build up a strong financial position, of which the country is now reaping the benefit, and Sin Joseph Ward we trust will see tho wisdom of following in the footsteps of his predecessor in ofiicc and make soundness the keynote of his policy. In creating the new Department of Munitions and Supplies, the Government has acted wisely, and a wise discretion has been shown in placing Mn. Myi:rs in chargc,of it. It is a position wbich.lw is cmuv Buitcci ,tn fill.. Ihs .fttfeei;.

members of the Opposition are on the whole well suited to their new portfolios, and very few changes of importance have been made in the Departments entrusted to those Ministers who held office under the M_\ssey Government. Mr.. Massey has been relieved of Agriculture, Mn. Herdman of Justice, Mr. Eraser of Mines, and there are one or two other changes of a minor character designed to secure a more equitable distribution of"the work and responsibility of administration, A feature of the National Ministry which may give rise to complaint is its size. We arc accustomed to Governments of eight or nine members; whereas this National Ministry consists of thirteen members. This is unnecessarily large, even though two, of the number are honorary Ministers. There is, however, very real consolation to be found in the fact that this increase in tho number appears to have retained for the country tho i services of Sir Franois Bell .as Leader of the Upper House. Wo should havo liked to have seen him holding a responsible office in tho new Cabinet, but have no doubt that his groat'ability-and experience will continue to be at the, disposal of his colleagues. That his exclusion from full Ministerial rank must have been at his own request goes without saying. Possibly it foreshadows the acceptance of some other office in which ho may find equal scope for honourable public service. In welcoming in the now Ministry it would bo ungracious to overlook the voluntary retirement of Mr. R H. Rhodes, late Postmaster-General. When tho suggestion for the formation of a National Ministry was first mooted Mr. Rhodes unhesitatingly offered to saorifiee his portfolio or to take any course whioh might best further the interests of the country in the way of bringing the two political parties into complete unity for the purposes of tho war. In tho action he has pursued the retiring Minister has set an example not merely to his fellow-members, but to' the whole , country. His record of useful service _ during the time he has hold Ministerial rank was tlio outcome of that same sense of duty which impelled him to relinquish offico and thus make the vacancy necessary to the formation of a National Ministry.