NEW MINISTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1926, Page 2

NEW MINISTERS.

PREMIER’S DEPARTMENT

LONDON PRESS COMMENT,

|JIV TEI.EGRAFH —-PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'.}

LONDON, January 19,

The “ Times ” comments on Mr Coates’s appointment of Air Thomson as head of the new Prime Alinistcr’s Department for Imperial Affairs and says: “Without continuous consultation between Britain and the Dominions, the doctrine of equality of status becomes unreal, and almost meaningless. The despatches sent to the Dominions from Downing Street in these days do not err in the direction of under-statement. The information supplied is so full and formidable that when affairs nearer home are pressing, it is fatally easy for what may be aps parently a routine document from. London to be pigeon-holed and then overlooked. The “Times” also editorially reviews Australia’s and Canada’s experiments in a similar direction and adds: “ There is no reason why all the Dominions should adopt precisely the same methods for keeping in touch with the Alother Country. Indeed it is probably by the variety of their experiments that the best system is most likelv to he reached.’

AIR COATES’ AIOV.I

APPRECIATED BY “THE TIMES.**

LONDON Jan. 19. The “Times” in welcoming the new department created by Hon. J. 0. Coates says : —“Tihe existence of such department is a natural corollary to the doctrine of equality of status. Without continuous consultation the doctrine becomes unreal and almost meaningless. Without- proper machinery not only in Britain hut also in the Dominions, continuous consultation is impossible. There is no reason why all the Dominions should not. adopt precisely the same methods.. They are perfectly free to make their own arrangements. Indeed the very vnrietv of their experiments will probably lead to the best system being reached. The significance of New Zealand’s action lies only in the fact that it is another sign of the growing recognition overseas that the status is meaningless without first-hand knowledge of external affairs, and a capacity to play a responsible part therein.”

THE COAIPLKTK CABINET. The changes announced, without anticipating those to follow by the end ■>f Afarch, leave the Cabinet constituted ns follows: RIGHT HON J. G. COATES, Prime Minister, Minister of Railways, Alinister of Native Affairs, Min- * ister in Charge of Electoral Department. SIR FRANCIS BELL, AHnister ot External Affairs. HON D. H. GUTHRIE, Member of Executive without portfolio. HON W. DOWNIE STEAVART, At-torney-General, Minister of Customs, Industries and Commerce, Alinister in Charge of the Board of Trade. HON AV. NOSAVORTHY, Minister of Finance and Associated Departments, Alinister of Immigration and Tourist and Health Resorts. SIR .TAAfKS PARR. Alinister of Education, Postmaster-General, Alinister in Charge of Police and Prisons. HON G. J. ANDERSON, Alinister of Labour Afarine, Alines, Pensions, and Subsidiary Departments. HON A. D. APLEOD. Minister of Lands, Discharged Soldier Settlement and Scenery Preservation. HON R. F. BOLLARD. Alinister of Internal Affairs and Subsidiary Departments. HON 0. HAAVKEN, Alinister oF Agriculture, Commissioner of State Forests. HON F. J. ROLLESTON, Alinister of Justice, Alinister of Defence. HON J. A. YOUNG. Alinister of Puhlie Healtli and Hospitals. STR A TAUT POAfARE. Minister of Cook Islands and Member of Executive Council representing the Native race.