"SO SLOWLY"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 123, 25 May 1926, Page 8

"SO SLOWLY"

THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Commenting on the Cabinet changes, the "New Zealand Herald" (Beform) says: "Mr. Wright has had experience of polities, both local and general, for a considerable term of years. His various activities have brought him into contact with things educational, and now he is to have a chance to show .his grasp of the many present problems and his capabilities as an administrator in an office making no small demands on its incumbent. The rest of the adjustments inside the ranks aro of smaller interest than the fact that the process of general reconstruction proceeds so slowly.' • _ "This instalment really carries it. very little further forward. There is only a promise that Mr. Coates himself will be relieved in part of the heavy load he is carrying, in addition to that of party leadership. It jwas understood that he would make use of the free hand given him, when he was first chosen, to close up the ranks of lift own immediate staff, adding to its membership in accordance with his judgment of men and their capabilities. What has been done in that direction has been slowly done, and to all appearance tentatively. It has been a case of temporising, leaving something more for tho future, just as this latest instance does with a further appointment held over to a later date. Thia piecemeal process -may keep tho business of the country moving, but there is certainly ground for asking whether more definite and resolute handling of the task of selection, would not result in more efficiency and expedition in the conduct of public affairs." The "Star" (Liberal) remarks that Mr. Coates 's conduct of affairs since he took over the Premiership leads to doubt xvhether the summary of his character expressed a year ago was a just one, or whether it has since undergone deterioration. The article proceeds: "Especially do these doubts arise over his reconstruction of the Cabinet. INO Prime Minister ever had a wider man-' date. He was returned at the General Election with a majority which stag- • gored even himself. He had «m absolutely free hand in choosing his colleagues. The resignation of every Minister was put in his poekdfr to use or to tear up as he saw fit. Nobody suggested that his team was the best available, and it was generally thought that at least three of them would retire to give place to stronger men. "NOT CABINET-MAKING." "Week after week has passed, however, and still these members retain their posts, and still there is uncertainty as to Mr. Coates's final intentions. He has now announced the inclusion of Mr. Wright in the Cabinet as Minister of Education, and the reshuffle of some of the other portfolios to ease Mr. Stewart of the burden of Attorney-Generalship. ■ The present announcement is a part of the piecemeal methods by which Mr. Coates has proceeded, instead of boldly stating the personnel of the Cabinet at one fell swoop, as he might have done. He has chopped and changed about, taking in four new men at irregular intervals, and pleasing nobody but the appointees \n the process, and the tale is not yet completed. Though we aro almost on tho eve of the session, the Premier announces that somebody is to take over the portfolio of Public Works from himself. He does not say whether tlii3 will be done by another shuffle,_ or by the appointment of an extra Minister. "This is not Cabinet-making; it is joinery, and of the apprentice type at that. It is notorious that the party contains a number, of disgruntled members, not all place-seekers, but men who would have preferred a blunt and outspoken take-it-or-leave-it announcement, provided it had resulted an getting rid of the weaker elements in the Cabinet and the inclusion of some of the stronger men. The new Minister for Education will not be so useful in debate as was his predecessor, but he has taken a keen interest in educational affairs for many years, and after 15 years of Parliamentary experience he should make a sound administrator.