THE MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 222, 14 June 1920, Page 4

THE MINISTRY

TWO UNPLACED PORTFOLIOS.

Nothing has yet been done by the Prime Minister about tho appointment of another Minister. It will bo remembered that when Mr. Massey announced the last appointment, that, of M\ Anderson, he suggested that ho might make ouo other appointment later. In the course of a few days Sir William Eraser will be retiring from the Ministry, and this will leave the portfolio of Mines to bo allocated. No satisfactory placing of Defence has yet been fixed, for although Mr. Coates is acting, he has let it be known that he. docs not consider that ho can do justice to the big portfolio of Public Works, and the big portfolio of Defence as well. ■ , Changes in the Defence scheme and in the administration must be made with as little delay as possible, but it is understood that they can bo made without new legislation. The work of getting the Department back to something like a peace footing has not yet been done, however, and the new Minister mnv find tho task no easy one. The work of all Ministers has increased crormously of lato ymrs,_ and unless great changes are made in administrative methods, by which the Minister will be relieved of uracil of the detail which has to be reviewed by the Minister of practically every Department, an increase in the number of Ministers will bo unavoidable. This appointment of another Minister may not be made at once, hut it will probably have to be made before tho session is far, advanced.