WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE MINISTRY

RELIEF FOR -MR MASSEY

(Special to “Guardj-n”.)

WELLINGTON, March 12

approval. THEi HAIRY CONTROVERSY. The dairy controversy, the disputation, that is, between the supporters and tlie opponent; of “absolute control” is now centering around the Or-der-in-Couneil for which the Dairy li aul has made a.; plication in order that it may have the official approval of the Government as well as the wide authority conferred upon it by the Legislature. It i.s understood that opinion. even among high legal authorities, is :li\ idl'd as to whether or not the imprimatur of an Order-in-Couiicil is absolutely necessary to enable the Board to take (barge of all exported butter; hut naturally the in embers of the Hoard arc anxious to he fortified at evenpoint and if they could shift the responsibility for their exercise of compulsion on to the Government they would proceed without trepidation. The Government, however, still is considering the question—so inquirers are being told—.and the delay suggests that the Acting-Prime Minister and )■ i.s col- j I leagues are not particularly anxious to assume the responsibility the Board would thrust upon them. They have to consider not only the need for Jdie Or-der-in-Council, but also the fact that it will not he required, in any ease. I

O till a. year or so home. In those eir O cumstanoe.s it will not he surprising i V the- issue of the authority, if it i.s is q sued at all, will he delayed till the beg ft inning of next year, when partial eon--0 trol will hr-vo a further trial and the 0 general election will have revealed in

jf what way the political wind is blowing, k, FORTY YEARS’ SERVICE. ft is rumoured that the Government 5 is contemplating the oailv retirement 3 on superannuation of another hatch of 3 State employees who have completed j forty years of service. Proha lily some 5 of the officers concerned who have J reached salaries sufficient to carry n 3 conilortable pension will view the pres-

i pcct with equanimity, if not with acj tual satisfaction. But neither the age y limit nor the service limit appears al- ) ways to v.ork out to the advantage of ) the individual or the State in these | cases. Probably the State suffers i: ■ the lolly; run more than dees the indiv- • idual. There have been a number of cases within the last few years in whirl j exceptionally competent officers who i have reached highly responsible p.oxi- ! lions have been ‘‘retired” while stii in their earlier fifties in order that a fjuoiio of less competent and much less experienced men may secure a. step upwards, hi this way the State lias lost the services of invaluable officers, several of whom, with hand,some pensions, have straight-a way stepped into private employment and' tints, in addition to increasing the demands upon | the superannuation fund, have taken the places of less fortunate workers in the open market. Keen the Americans "’ith all their bias against the mail ‘ over forty, know better than to east 5 adrift an efficient servant on account of 1 his years of service. New Zealand not : only does this, but also pays hand- 1 sotnely for the privilege of making the change. v

The reports supplied to the newspapers concerning Mr Massey’s health continue to he encouraging. They imply that the patient has passed the crisis iu his trouble, is making good progress towards complete recovery and is extremely anxious to he out and about again. But long before he was compelled to take to his bed the Prime' Minister had been reeklessely overworking himself. The marvel is that lie lasted so long. Mr Scddon, endowed like Mr Massey, with an iron constitution, took up a- similar burden at forty-eight years of age and died in harness at sixty-one. The present Prime Minister was fifty-six when he succeeded to office and now is sixtynine. No other country within the Empire can claim two such examples of continuous endurance among its constitutional leaders. But. it is plain now to both his personal and political friends that Mr Massey cannot in the near future resume the load he has been hearing lor years. With a session of- Parliament at hand—a session which promises to lie a particularly strenuous one—and with a general election to follow close upon the prorogation, it would be simply suicidal for him to attempt to maintain his old place in the turmoil of debate and electioneering. Nothing hut disaster to himself and his party could result from such an indiscretion, It twill he hard of course for him to delegate any of the functions of leadership, as it would have been hard for Mr Seddou to share any of his responsibilities, hot the alternative is so obvious there should he no hesitation iu rejecting it absolutely. PREMI Eft’S ASSISTANT. The “ Evening Post ” discussing, the position, with the Hon. .1. 0. Coate’s refutation of the aspirations attributed to him as its text, urges that it '• will he necessary to choose a deputy-leader in the House of Representatives in order that Mr Massey may not he compelled to attend all day and all night as he hits been in the habit of doing.” I’lie deputy, the ‘‘Post ’’ explains, in addition to relieving the Prime Minister in the House, would have to take a full share of the platform work during the election, and to do whatever Mr Masey ielt lie could leave to an assistant. The local journal is significantly insistent upon scnioiity not being allowed to govern the selection of a deputy. *' An appointment made on seniority alone.” it protests, ‘‘would not serve the purpose, and it would ho harmhil, because many piooplc would imagine that it was a choice made on fitness.” This demand might easily appear a little invidious. The senior members in the House, next to Mr Massey, are Sir R. H. Rhodes, and Sir Maui Pomare, and alter them come the Hon. W. Xoswortliy and the Hon. .T. Cl. Coates, followed by Sir C. J. Parr, the Hon. (1. ,1. Anderson and the Hon I W. f). Stewart, with the Hon. R. F. Bollard and the Hon. A. I). McLeod as comparatively new arrivals. Probably it is the Hon. \V. I). Stewart on whom the “ Post," has its eye. The .Minister of Customs relieved the Prime’ .Minister of many of his burdens, j articu- I larlv in connection with finance, last I session, and his permanent recognition as coadjutor would meet with general