The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1928.

MINISTER IA L RES PONSIBILITJES The regrettable illness of the Hon G. J. Anderson, Minister of- Mines and Labour, will further affect the strength of the Coates Ministry. Mr Anderson has been in Parliament some twenty years, and has held a portfolio for eight years. He became well-known as Minister of Mines at a time when trouble was over rife in the coalmining industry. He was an able negotiator and was able to maintain a fair measure of serenity. It is perhaps as Minister of Labour that be bus laboured chiefly of late. The unrest and division of opinion on the benefits or ill-effects of the arbitration system, lias brought the department into special prominence of late. Last session Mr Anderson brought down a bill to deal with the question, but a storm of protest arose, and to save the situation, Mr Coates brought forward a proposal for a general conference or round the table talk among all factions to endeavour to reach unanimity. This staved off a possible crisis. The conference is to meet soon, blit with so many conflicting interests, it is doubtful if any material advance can be made with views and opinions so much at variance. The absence of the Minister of Labour from that meeting will be felt. In the ordinary course Mr Anderson would be the directing bead. A successor will require to be appointed, and much will depend on the work and worth of the substitute. This is a jepiinder that there is still a vacancy

in the .Ministry, the late Mr Bollard’s post not being filled. This is remarkable, but there is the fact. Mr Coates cannot long delay 'his choice, even though it will not please all the party aspirants, but to delay the selection unduly is suggesting a want ot strength and boldness on the part- of the Prime Minister in making bis choice, and seeing it through with the party. The numerical strength of the Ministry is greater than in former times, aml the vacant post could ho filled by a rosliufl'ling of the portfolios. but the party will expect the plums of office to be served out and go round as far as possible, and Mr Coates might well settle the peace of mind of those concerned by announcing his choice. The question of filling Mr Anderson’s place is another problem, especially for the reasoin •riven above, to provide a leader on behalf of the Government in presiding at the coming conference. The choice of ea]>able men in the House for the task on the Reform side is limited, and Mr Coates again lias a difficult proposition. IT is hands, too are full with the unemployed issue, which will perhaps be considered part and parcel of the order of reference bearing on the conference work. In many quarters the arbitration system by allegedly raising wages unduly and giving preference to unionists, lias caused unemployment so (bat the issue must come very prominently to the fore. Labour itself seeing that arbitration is to some extent in jeopardy, is now prepared to maintain the system by official strikes! Yet in the arbitration system Labour had the greatest aid as a stepping stone to the improved standard of working and living it lias attained. It was the abuse of the system by Labour—in using the system when it suited, and in ignoring the system otherwise —that lias assisted to bring arbitration to trial before the bar of public opinion. Mr Anderson's bill of last, session was drafted to meet the position as it seemed to present itself to the outsider or onlooker, in the I lope of fair play and settled employment. Labour realised the position in time to stave off the immediate consequences of playing fast and loose with tin- system, and it, is now for the conference to try to reach some finality on which there will he unanimity. I'nless there is some striking personality at the bead of the meeting, capable of directing discussion along practical lines, t lie whole position will have to Im* refouglit on the floor ot Hie House, and probably in tile end before the electors as a whole at the general election.