WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1926, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CABINET MAKING. FINISHED AT LAST. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, June 15. Curious folk who love poking their noses into other peoples’ business still are wondering why tiie Prime Minister left tfie Hon K. S. Williams to announce his own appointment to the Cabinet. Early last week it was common talk in liis own constituency that Mr Williams had been induced to accept the remaining portfolio Mr Coates had to give away. On Thursday the "Evening Post” had it on the best authority that the story living about the Bay of Plenty was true; hut it failed to obtain what it deemed the necessary confirmation from the Prime Minister and the public remained unconvinced. The Prime Minister declared ho knew nothing about the matter. On Friday the morning papers made no allusion to the subject, presumably having failed to extract any information from the head of the Government; but on. Saturday they published the official announcement of Mr Williams’s appointment. Just what was the object of all this mystery and delay it is difficult even to conjecture. It really was a feather in the Prime Minister’s cap to have over-dome Mr Williams’s reluctance to accept office and one would have thought he would have made the most of Tils achievement. The new Minister will he a very idstinct acquisition to the Cabinet, his pleasant personality, his sturdy independence and his knowledge of affairs having made him popular both in the House and in flip lobbies. As a tactical move his appointment is the happiest of all Air Coates’s efforts at cabinet-making. THE MINISTERIAL ATTITUDE.

The appointment of Air Williams as Minister of Public Works brings the numerical strength of the Cabinet up to fourteen, six more than the number considered necessary when ATr Afassey took office fourteen years ago and two more than were required to balance parties and carry exceptional burdens during the course of the groat war. Mr Coates maks no apology for this substantial increase. On the contrary, in announcing the completion of liis team lie expresses to the disappointed aspirants for portlolios regret that he is unable to give them their deserts forthwith. “ 1 should like to repeat,” lie says, “that whore there are so many eligible members of the partv which T have the honour to load. T have found flic task of making tlie selection of new Afniistors no easy one. I know it. is impossible in these matters to give l universal satisfaction, Hut T have endeavoured to pick a team Hint will, I believe, give of their best in the service of the Dominion.” Statements of this kind usually are reserved for the privacy of the party caucus ; but it is one of the charming manifestations of liis exuberant boyishness that Afr Coates takes the whole wide world into his personal confidences without any thought of the purpose to which they may he turned by liis political opponents.' AIR SPEAKER.

An Otago correspondent of tlic “ Dominion.” evidently perturbed by wliat lie Ims road of tile prospect of a contest for the Speakership when the House of Representatives assembles to-morrow, pays a pretty compliment to Mr C. E. Statlmm, who filled the high office with great credit and distinction during the life of the last Parliament. ‘‘ Afnnv years ago.” he writes hy way of pointing his moral, “it was deemed his duty hy Mr Alfred Saunders to support the reelection of the Speaker, and after commending quite able and efficient predecessors in the office, he designated Sii Maurice- O’Rourke as ‘ a controlling Speaker,’ and on that ground—the only sufficient one, when one really thinks of it—urged his fitness for the high and responsible office to which he was appointed. The resemblance, in voice, manner, method, training, and all the essentials for the office, between Sir Maurice O’Rourke and Mr Speaker Statlmm. is Ho marked that it has been the subject of frequent comment, by members of the 1 fourth estate.’ I sincerely bone that this fact, with its important implications, may not he, on the opening day of Parliament, disregarded.” ft is unthinkable that there.will he any serious opposition bo the re-election of Air Statlmm to-morrow. Imt in any case this tribute to bis previous occupancy of the chair should ,go on record. LICENSING AND G A AUNG, rt is generally expected that measures dealing with licensing and gaming will he submitted to Parliament during tlie session opening to-morrow. Licensing is likely to prove the more contentious of the two subjects, as it concerns intimately a, much larger section of the community than does the totalisator; hut there is a. feeling abroad that the present House oi Representatives will look with more favour upon proposals for extending the time between the option polls than has any previous House since the institution of popular control. The Prime Minister has made no secret ol his view that to obtain the necessary hotel accommodation throughout the country and to maintain it at a high standard of quality the owners must he given some approach to security of tenure in return for their additional expenditure. It will he surprising if a large proportion of the members of the new House, irrespective of party, do not endorse this view. As for the gambling proposals these are not likely to go much further than does the legislation already on the Statute Rook. AA'hat is wanted here more than anything else is vigorous administration. and the new Minister of Justice, the Hon. F. -T. Rolleston. lias made such a good beginning in this respect that the question very well might he allowed to stand over till the full results of his policy are revealed.