THE FIRST COMMONWEALTH MINISTRY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 June 1901, Page 4

THE FIRST COMMONWEALTH MINISTRY.

Extracts from an A.M.P, Society’s Pamphlet..

As all our readers know, the first Ministry of the Commonwealth of Australia consists of the following gentlemen .—The Eight Hon. Edmund Barton, P.C., K.C., Premier and Minister of External Affairs ; The lion, Alfred Deaken, Attorney-General; The Hon. Sir William John Lyne, K.C.M.G., Minister of Homo Affairs; The Right Hon. Sir George Turner, P.C. K.C.M.G., Treasurer; The Right Hon. Chas. Cameron Kingston, P.C., K.C., Minister of Trade and Customs; The Eight Hon. Sir John Forrest, P.C., K.C.M.G., Minister of Defence ; The Hon. James George Drake, Postmaster-General ; the Hon. Richard Edward O’Connor, ILC., Vice-President of the Executive Council; The Hon. Neil Elliott Lewis (without portfolio ; and it is our pleasing privilege to bo able to say that every one of them is also a member of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, most of them having been assured with us for very many years. It is significant that these gentlemen, chosen from all the six States, and all men of the first rank amoug our public men, should all be found also within the ranks of this great Society. We need scarcely say that we should not have given publicity to this fact without permission. In granting ns this permission we have received most kindly remarks from all the Ministers, of which we cannot do better than produce one or two examples : Mr Barton writes “In my opinion, tho Society and its operations have been of incalculable value to Australia, both in the respect of the encouragement of due provision by citizens for their families, and in respect of the stability which such a Society tends to give to financial investment,” Mr Deakin states : —“ The best testimony of my appreciation of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and confidence in its future, is shewn by the fact that beginning twenty years ago with a policy, I have since then taken out three others, and have multified my interest in it fivefold. It is the only investment I have ever made about which my one regret is that it is not larger, and was not preferred to all others.” Sir John Forrest says “I am a member of the A.M.P. Society, and have been so. for many years. I have always considered the Society to be an excellent one." Mr R. E. O’Connor says:—“l am exceedingly pleased with my investment in the Society, and only wish it was ten times as large. And Mr Lewis adds :—“ lam proud to be a member of the great A.M.P. Society, and look upon my investment in the policies I hold in it as tho best and safest I have ever made. Whenever I consider the assurances that I have been fortunately able to effect for the benefit of those dependent upon me I experience a sense of security and comfort - ” We may further add that Sir Phillip O. Fysh, who has since taken Mr Lewis’s place in the Ministry, is also one of our oldest Tasmanian members.