The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4268, 31 October 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1876.

Major Atkinson did wisely to defer to the expressed opinion of the House of Represen tativea by withdrawing the (ivil List Act Amendment Bill, the past-ing of which wou'd have augmented the number of Cabinet Ministers fmm seven to eight. One or two ambitious spirits will probably feel disappointed ; but the country is in no mood for permanently increasing the cost of government. It wants economy—not more Ministerial portfolios. lb may be, as the Premier states, that the abolition of Provincial institutions will increase the work of Ministers. Since those gentlemen will, for the future, be required to perform the functions which have hitherto been discharged by the Provincial Executives, it is probable that such will be the case ; but, even with this addendum, the strength of the present Cabinet ought not to be overtasked. Other colonies, with a larger population, and proportionately greater inti rests to look after than iNew Zealand, manage to do with seven Ministers, and wo cannot vce why ew Zealand -hould require more. It is a simple matter of fact: that a prominent member of the late Cabinet v as at'sent from the Colony for a considerable p. ri>4, during which time his departmental duties were performed by his colleagues, apparently without physical exhaustion to themselves or dotiiment to the public service; aad tbu uatu ral inference follows that, however de-'

sirable it may have been to allot seats to seven European ministers, that numbtr, tinder the late order of things, Was not imperatively necessary for the transaction of departmental business. It cannot be seriously urged a' present that the duties connected w ,' lfc k education, which have devolved upon the Government by the change in the Constition, are of such magnitude as to demand the sole attention of a Minister. Save as regards Canterbury, the existing educational machinery isleftalmostundisturbed.anduntil a general Education Act has been passed, the functions imposed upon the Government will be chiefly of a clerical nature, and might appropriately be entrusted to Mr Bowbn, who, as Minister of Justice, has little opportunity of distinguishing himself, and must often find time hanging heavily en his hands. The office now held by Mr Bowen was, it is well known, created not because it was wanted, but because the Ministry of the day desired to strengthen the Cabinet by a legal recruit in the person of Mr Sewell ; and, that object having been accomplished, the office has since been more from a wish to maintain the full number of seven Ministers than from any other cause. Mr Bowex is well fitted to be at the head of educational matters, in which he takes a considerable interest; and the union of the portfolios of Justice and Education would be suitable enough in its character. The expense of another Minister is of course not limited to his own salary and allowances, but extends to the cost of a new department, for a Minister without a department would be something like a general without an army ; so that the increase of expense is not an immaterial matter. Then, too, t e argument that the present number of Ministers is quite large enough for the independence of the Assembly is not without its force ; and from whatever light, indeed, the question is viewed, the withdrawal of the Bill was a wise proceeding. The only pity is that it should ever have been introduced.