RECONSTRUCTION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1920, Page 3

RECONSTRUCTION

SYDNEY, Jan. 6. Important changes in the personnel of the Federal and the New South Wales Cabinets are expected—due to the recent election, in the case*of the one, and to an expected election "til the case of the other. The election eliminated three Federal Ministers—Mr Webster (PostmasterGeneral), Air Glynn (Minister for Home and Territories), and Senator Russell (Assistant -Minister). The defeat of Senator Russell, owing to the slow counting of the Senate votes, is not announced yet, but it appears certain, It may be said of them that they were the three weakest Ministers in the Cabinet. Senator Russell is a very young man, of considerable ability; but lie gave the impression of being very lazy, and lie did not seem to take his duties seriously. It is not known that Air Hughes prayed for the defeat of Alessrs Webster and Glynn, who lowered the Average efficiency of his Cabinet by a great deal. Air Webster was an uncultured person, of some administrative ability, who made himself ridiculous by posing as a litterateur and poet. Mr Glynn was a man of great culture, who failed lamentably as an administrator —who would bring forth a brilliant saying from Aristotle when asked how matters were going in the Northern Territory. There are three vacancies to fill, and if Sir Joseph Cook —now a very amiable old gentleman without any political punch—goes to London as High Commissioner, there will be a fourth, and considerable re, construction may be possible. Prrbable appointees include .Mr Hector Lomond, an able young mail, formerly editor ol the “Sydney. Worker,” who was thrown out of the Labour Party beeKuse lie supported Air Hughes in bis advocacy of conscription; Captain Bruce, AI.C., a very able young .Melbourne business man, head of the great Westralian firm of Paterson, Laing and Bruce; Air Laird Smith, a burly and belligerent Tasmanian Labourite, who was likewise excommunicated on the conscription question; Mr Rodgers, a remarkably earnest and hard-working politician, also a young man, and one of the most valuable representatives in Parliament of the agricultural and pastoral industries; Mr Bamford, an aged and somewhat frail Queenslander, who has given years of yeoman service. It will not lie hard to find a Senator qualified to take Cabinet rank, but the election had added some new lint very competent men to a House of Representative* where they were very badly needed.

The disturbance in the New South Wales Cabinet seems to be due to a lack 1 of unanimity as to whether Mr Holman shall or shall not lead the Nationalists in the coining State elections. Mr Holman is the only man of real quality in the Cabinet, but he has upon bis bead the opprobrium of a great deal of dirtiness, with* which certain of his friends and Ministers have been associated. What is known as the Grnhame Wheat Scandal—although Mr Holman was only guilty in so far that he tried to protect one of his followers —has utterly damned the Cabinet in public estimation, and a Labour victory is generally expected, whether Mr Holman leads or whether he succeeds Sir Gluts Wade in London.