FEDERAL CABINET

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1920, Page 3

FEDERAL CABINET

WEAK TN ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY. SYDNEY, June 23. As a result of the resignation, in sensational circumstances, of the Federal Cabinet is likely to be reconstructed . An announcement by the I’rinie Alinister is expected in about a week’s time. It can safely be said that never iu the

tiistorv pf the Commonwealth has there Peon a weaker Federal Cabinet in office. The removal of Mr Watt leaves only one outstanding personality in the Cabinet--and that, of course, is Mr Hughes. And Mr Hughes, unlike Mr Watt, is no administrator. He is a brilliant orator and au erratic genius—a constructive thinker, but a man who leans very much on liis associates in carrying out Ins ideas. There are two other men in the Cabinet with capacity for leadership and administration—Senator Milieu, Minister for Repatriation, and Mr Massey Greene, Minister for Customs. Senator Millcn, because he is a Senator and not a member of the House, is, in a sense, cut off from the front rank of the Cabinet. Mr Greene is a very young Minister—forty, or thereabouts—and lie is not happy in his present com. pany. Ho has strength of character, and much business ability, but lie does not seem to thrust himself forward in the manner necessary for a “career.”

The remainder of the Ministers suffer very much in comparison with other Cabinets, particularly the “Cabinet of giants” with which the Commonwealth was inaugurates so auspiciously twenty years aim. It is expected that Sir Joseph Cook will become Treasurer in Mr Watt’s place. Sir Joseph appears now to be a completely spent force. His utterances carry no Weight in the newspapers, and he himself seems to ask for nothing except pence and quiet. It is generally supposed that lie will I presently succeed Mr Fisher as High Commissioner; and that, in spirit, he has already withdrawn himself to that peaceful sphere. Senator Pearce (Minister for Defence) lies not recovered

from the chorus of jeers with which the country greeted his decision to go to London early in 1919, and speed up I demobilisation. No one, after that . had any doubt as to the cofmtrv’.s ' opinion of liis administrative capacity—and it woenis to have shaken the Minis'tor’s rather notable confidence in Tiniself. Air Poynton (Minister for Homo and Territories), AL* Wise (PostmasterGeJteralO, Air Groom (Minister for Works and Senator Russell (Assistant Alinister), hold portfolios by the strange accidents of politics. They are most worthy citizens, but their best- friends admit that they lack administrative force.