PLUMS OF OFFICE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 13

PLUMS OF OFFICE

Conflict of Jealousies In Australian Cabinet C0UNTRY PARTY'S SUCCESS SYDNEY, Dec. 3. State jealousies and party squabbling marked the seleetion of the Pederal Cabinet. After 10 or 11 days of negotiations between the Labour of the United Australia Party, Mr Ly.ons, and Leader of the Country Party, Dr. Page, Mr Lyons, as Prime Minister, had to spend a grudling day, marked by sudden compromises, so that he could announce his team before the opening or Parliament. The Cabinet selected the previous night by Mr Lyons had to be revised because of objeetions to certain of the personnel. There will be repereussions behind party doors for a long tiiae. The Cabinet is one that represents all States, but had dissatisfied the U.A.P. members froni New South Wales. Only one TJ.A.P. member from this State — Mr William Hughes, Minister of External Affairs — hoids a portfolio, and even iie has been reduced in status. His; portfolio is generally considered to be of niinor importance. "Cracked the Whip." The two other New South Wales Ministers Tvith portfolios are Country Party members — Dr. Page, Minister of Commerce, and Mr H. Y. Thorby, Minister of . ei'ence. It is urged that there should have been representation in the Cabinet of the large manufacturing areas in Nc.v South Wales. The Country Party .appears to have cracked the whip. It has secured the plui s of Office — Commerce, Defence and Interior — and the Treasury and Commerce Assistant Ministership out of a Cabinet of 14. The one bright spot, from a L.A.P. point of view, is the successful resistauce of the Country Party's demand for the PostmasterGeneralship. One of the criticisms levelled at Dr. Page's proposal by sections of both Ministerial parties was his apparent indifferenee to State representation. It was pointed out that he was apparently prepared to give the three Country portfolios to New South Wales representatives at the expense of Victorian representation. ( State Representation. State representation is still a sore point in some Government quarters. Victorian mem' ers are critical of the reduction of Victorian representation from sjx, after the formation of the Coalition Government in 1934, to four, and the increase in New South .Wales representation from four to hve. Some New South Wales members are equally critical of the treatment meted out to their State. They say that Vietoria has been given four portfolios — Treasury,- Attorney-General, Customs, and Interior— all of which are important, while New oouth Wales has been given only three — Defence, Commerce, External Affairs and Territories — only two of which they regard as of first importance. The only explanation given for the division of the Health and Eepatriation portfolio and their transfer from Mr Hughe3 to other Ministers is that Mr Hughes, now over 73, should be available to give the benefit of his experience on all questions which come before Cabinet. It has been known for some ^time that Mr Hughes would be given lighter duties than he had in the last Cabinet, but Mr Hughes himself strongly opposed the change. He interviewed Mr Lyons three times during the last day of Cabinet-making — the last time shortly before the Cabinet had been completed. It was only at the last moment, it is stated, that he Avas given the External Affairs and Territories in addition to the post seleeted for him— \ ice-President of the Executive Coun*cil.