WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

STILL CABINET-MAKING. SLOW PROGRESS. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. April 20. 'J’ho local papers, as in duty bound, continue to devote a considerable amount of space, if not a great deal of, serious consideration, to the subject of Cabinet making. “No official announcement regarding Cabinet reconstruction is likely be made until after the Prime Minister returns to Wellington,” the " Post ” told its readers last evening. “Mr Coates has by no means lost sight of this mat ter, but ho is giving it the fullest consideration before coming to a final decision, despite the fact that some Reformers are becoming anxious to know what tbc political future lias in store for them;” The assurance that Mr Coates lias not altogether lost sight of the matter is quite the host thing yet written concerning the Government’s dalliance with the feelings of its expectant followers, and one may be sure that nobody has enjoyed the jest more than the Prime Minister himself. The “ Dominion ” this morning deals, with the position in its severely, unimaginative vein. “ The Prime Minister,” it says. “ will leave Wellington to-night for Tokaanu, and probably will he absent from Wellington for three or four days. There will be no Cabinet rearrangement till bis return. The only certainties in the situation seem to be that the two portfolios mentioned will he vacant and that Finance will he transferred from the Hon Ay. Noswortiiv to the Hon AA’. R. Stewart.” The morning paper does not jest upon so serious a matter. BOOTLESS DELAY.

The truth of the matter is that Mr Coates, so far from losing sight of the matter of Cabinet making, has it so constantly pressed upon his attention that lie is going North to obtain a little respite from the persistent representations of liis gratuitous advisers. The mistake ho made at the outset was in going about bis task piecemeal. It was no occasion for a prompt decision, which might, have left many of his friends lamenting, hut would have maintained for the life ol the present Parliament, at any rate, his reputation as a strong man. He has been in office nearly ton months, his sweeping victory at the polls is nearly five months old. and yet tlie personnel of his Cabinet still is incomplete. Tt was all very well for him to figure, as executor to his dead chief’s policy up to the time at which the mantle of Air Massey was transferred by the electors to his own shoulders; but after that consummation of his aspirations it became bis own fault if he were not “ firmly seated in the saddle.” lie is not going to please all bis supporters in the House by his long-delayed distribution of the remaining portfolios; it is certain, indeed, that, he will displease at least a. round dozen of them ; hut the danger of open dissension will be rather increased than lessened by further delay. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

A somewhat purposeless discussion between university students on the subject of Bible in schools, in which the young gentlemen seem to have taken either side with equal facility, has drawn from, the “ Post ” a characteristic article in which it nails its own colours to the strong staff of secularism. “To pretend to introduce religion into an education without affecting its sccularity,” it says. “ is surely properly described as camouflage. At the same time, what could be more candid than to propose to make the change by a measure which will introduce Bible lessons, the Lord’s Prayer, and hymnsinging into the schools, and is frankly described as a Religious Exercises in Public Schools llillr’ Preposterous as such candid camouflage may seem, there is real danger in it, jtntl we trust that the strong lead given by the AA'el- j lin.gton branch of the Teachers’ Institute last week will rouse the support-

ors of the present’ system to lose no

time in organising an effective resistance.” Tlie legitimate excuse for reviving this controversy is the large measure of support accorded to the

Hon 1,. AT. Isitt’s Bill in the House of Representatives last session, hut with Air Tsitt comfortably seated in the Legislative Council far removed from

tlie influences brought to bear upon him during bis last session in tho “other place.” lie is not likely to engage in an attempt upon the vital principles of the education systems of the Dominion. ILLICIT RETTING.

Tlie recent change in the administration of tho Justice Department appears, perhaps merely as a coincidence, to have been followed by increased activity on the part of the police in the suppression of illicit betting. Quite a number of the small fry among the bookmakers have been

brought to hook during the last week or two. and the evidence submitted to secure their conviction suggests that gambling of the kind they have been carrying on is assuming larger dimensions year b,v year. The police are to he commended for their increased activity, whatever their inspiration may have been, but it is disappointing to find the big operators still managing to evade the law and the small ones

haled before tlie magistrates in many capes escaping with much lighter penalties than the legislature lias provided for their misdeeds. No ilouht the Hon F. J. Rolleston, tlie new Minister.

has the whole matter under his eye and as opportunity offers will impress

pon his executive officers the need for

the utmost vigilance and for adequate punishment when the offenders are discovered. The administration of the law, in many eases, in the past has been so .scandalously lax that the whole community has begun to look upon illicit betting as a venial offence and to readily condone the leniency of a magistrate who accepts any plausible excuse for breaches of the law to reduce penalties to little more than a nominal amount.