A CABINET PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1918, Page 3

A CABINET PROBLEM.

THE CONTROL OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS. TWO MINISTERS AT VARIANCE. (N.Z. Times). It is sojnewliat of an anomaly that at a moment when the National Government is asking .or a vote of confidence from the electors of Wellington North the members of the Government/ are divided by personal animosities . and /jealousies, and apparently entertain • no, confidence in each'other. Several days ago, Sir William Fraser was assuring an audience in a northern centre that the Ministers were a thoroughly happy family, working together in complete and harmonious accord, and that the reports of divisions , in the Cabinet were wholly without foundation. Singularly enough, nobody had suggested that there were divisions in the Cabinet, so that the assurance was superfluous, and was possibly suggested by some inner prompting of conscience.

However, as a matter of'sober fact, the relations of Cabinet Ministers are just now, and have not been, so cordial towards each other as Sir William Fraser would have the people • believe. Only very recently the unhappy relations existing between one set of Ministers was the subject of some comment, in the press and elsewhere, and, apart from this, it is no secret that Mr. Hcrdman would not have deserted his party at a critical moment in its fortunes and taken a judgeship had it not been for the strained relations between himself and Sir Francis Bell. Now a fresh trouble has originated within the charmed circle, where only peace' and harmony are supposed to dwell and the situation that lias arisen is so serious that a Cabinet meeting has been called to consider it. 'Pile Ministers concerned are the Hon. G. W. Russell, who had been controlling the wounded soldiers’ department, and who has done useful ■and sympathetic work in that direction, and Sir James Allen, who is resolved to take over the care of tlu* wounded soldiers, and to add this responsibility to an administrative load that has already proved too heavy for him. The situation is complicated by a trouble between Air. Russell and Dr Valentine. The latter gentleman' is the executive head of the Health .Department under Mr Russell, and at the same time an officer of the Defence Department under Sir James Allen.

Tt remains to be seen whether the Cabinet will side with the Hon. W. Russell and protect him in the work which has proved so congenial, or whether it will favour the designs of Sir James A 1 len and give him charge of the wounded soldiers. Either way, the situation is a delicate one, and may easily lead to the resignation of a Minister, or even to a Cabinet crisis. Of course, it is quite possible that Air. Russell may quietly submit to the indignity, or may allow himself to be compensated in some other direction, but even if he does, the change is not likely to he met with public approval. Air. Russell has, done his most useful work in the control of the wounded soldiers’ depart- : ment, while, on the other hand. Sir i Jnmsc Allen fails most signally in his i want of the quality of sympathy • to- ! wards soldiers whether wounded or i otherwise.