WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PRIME MINISTER’S ILLNESS

GRAVE ANXIETY

(Special to “Guardir\n”.)

WELLINGTON, April C.

There is a very wide-spread fooling throughout the community that the gravity of the Prime 'Minister's ill-, ness has 'been under-stated in the bulletins which have been issued from time to time during the past week, [f this feeling is ungrounded, Mr Massey’s colleagues are very much to blame for the /very general anxiety and alarm. For many weeks previous to the announcement that their chief had undergone a serious operation they had authorised statements in the papers to the effect that the crisis ol Ids trouble had passed, that he was making a satisfactory recovery and that it was hoped he would be about again in the course of a lew weeks. Since the operation they have Icit the public fn complete ignorance of ’its purpose, its nature and ils efieot, and in this wav have encouraged the circulation of reports of a most disquieting character. The only Minister who has attempted to allay the popular anxiety is Mr A. T). McLeod, whose assurance that his Chief’s illness was not half so serious as had been represented war too obviously superficial to carry conviction to anyone. To-day Wellington is extremely nervy on the subject, ft feels that it has not been given the information it had a right to expect and that the Ministers have been lacking in candour and courtesy. In many quarters the very worst is being 1 eared, even expected, and everywhere its consequences are being contemplated with grave concern. AN ithiu the next few davs the truth must he out. THE LEADERSHIP.

The rertainity that Mr Massey will be unable to return to active service for many months naturally has led to much discussion and .speculation as to the arrangements that will he made for the approaching session of Parliament. Sir Francis Bell doubtless will continue to bear the title of Acting Prime Minister—thought of course the authority and privileges ol Hie Prime Minister, cannot, constitutionally, be delegated to anyone —and in his competent and experienced hands the dignity ami routine of the office will be safe. But Sir Francis is not a member of the Mouse and it is lorty-two years since a member ol the nominated Chamber was at the head of the Government- in this country, and nov-a-days public opinion would not tolerate such an arrangement, save in the most exceptional circumstances. But j in any ease an active leader of the House will be required, and it is evident that very great difficulty will be experienced in finding him. ihcie is a pretty general feeling among members on both side of tile House that Mr Downie Stewart would have been the Prime Minister’s own choice could lie have foreseen the necessity for such an appointment ; but Mr Stewart is in American under doctor’s orders and no one would wish him to return to the Dominion with the purimse ol his visit unfulfilled. As a matter of plain fact, however, Mr Stewart is the only one ol Mr Massey’s colleagues in the House capable of handling the portfolio "f Finance, which will over-shadow all other ministerial responsibilities during the approaching session and probable decide the fate of the Dovern-

men, at lhe general election. OTHER ASPIRANTS

Perhaps it would he scarcely lair to describe Mr Stewart as an aspirant for the porfolio of Finance. lie gave a vn *t amount of assistance last session in this department to Mr Massey, who had laid down for himsell the priii- , iole that the Prime Minister should have charge of the Treasury; hut lie expressed himself as well content to serve under his chief, and his war disabilities placed certain imperative limitations upon his own activities. Vat there is no other member ol tlm Cabinet. with the exception of Sir Francis Roll —whose appointment is quite out of the question bv reason ol his h.uing no seat in the elected fhn.nl,er-who has displayed anything more tn.m mere nodding aeqaiiintanee with Dm public accounts and their management Set ti„"' aside Sir Heaton Rhodes and Sir Maui Ponmro, the former being about to retire from active participation in polities and the latter having no ambitions in this direction. Mr Noswortliv and Mr Coates are the semen members, having been appointed n, 1919, and arc followed in chronological order by Mr Stewart Sir C • • Parr. Mr Anderson and Mr Bolhud. With the exception of Mr Stewart, and, in a. lesser degree Mr Conte,, none of these gentlemen has had a/.thing to do will, the Treasury, /Jo. displaced i„ the House, or on platform any knowledge of its intricacies The choice, therefore, seems imiio>.ei down to Mr Stewart ami Mr Coates, ami as Mr Stewart is away in Annie". and Mr Coates already is burdened’with Railways amt Post and leleoranhs to snv nothing of minor responsibilities, it is easy to understand how sorelv the Legislature ol the Dominion is' stricken by Mr Masseys illness.