WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1928, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE NEW GOVERNMENT. RECEPTION BY PCRLJC. (Special to “ Guardian ”.) AYELLINOTON, Dec. PL Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues have good reason to he well plased by the general attitude of both the metropolitan and provincial press towards the new Government. Some of the Reform publications that had held on to the Conservative traditions long {l 'lter they had been abandoned by Mr Massey and his followers .are predicting only a short reign for Sir Joseph and nn early collapse for his Party. Rut a great majority of the newspapers, including several of those that dubbed the United Party’s loader “ a past number” and the party itself an “insignificant factor” in the contest, are now admitting that the new Afinristy looks ut least as strongly equipped as was its predecessor, and that it is entitled to all reasonable assistance in proving itself before the country. So far both the Reform Party, now the Official Opposition, and the Labour Party, again out in the wilderness, have borne themselves with exemplary propriety in this respect, and Mr Coates and Mr 11. F. Holland can he trusted to , Continue “playing the game.” ; '■! THE OLD AVAR HORSE. 'i In* re-instated Prime .Minister is surprising even many of his close personal friends' by iiis physical vitality and his mental alertness. I Its would appear to be another ease ol the old war horse* inspired by the scent ot hatlie. lie has; soil led down to Hie ministerial routine as d he had been absent from the Treasury only during the silting of an Imperial ( onleivnee or during a'diplomatic jaunt Lo Australia. His specs'll in tin* House <> ! Representatives on Tuesday, in reply to the statements made by Mr Coates and Air ii. E. Unbind in regard ltheir attitude towards the Government, was one of the best cllolLs lie has made for a very long time, and I h<- fact that he is one ol the most, difficult men in Parliament to report will not prevent it making very illuminative reading in “Hansard.” It is true that he is- weighted with the instruction of a number of inexpermn - ed colleagues ; hut his recruits are men of (lie right type and will not lake long to master. all the intricacies o! I heir jobs. NO SMOOTH PASSAGE. Speaking last night at a complinumlorv dinner tendered to him hj the supporters ol the t idled Party, -wi Joseph admitted quite Irankly ihat >rrave dillicull.ies lay belore him and his allies in Parliament. He did me wish to belittle the magnitude of these difficulties.. uoL ■to pretend that aI re d\ lie saw plainly how they could he overcome. He did not want those associated with him, inside and outside ol Parliament;, to imagine that they had u smooth passage b-'-lore them and Dint all would he well with the country in a month ,or even in a year. Mat lie had great hopes, lor the luDire, great beliefs indeed, and by work and sacrifice and sustained effort the ultimate goal would he achieved. Me was aware that some of his colleagues were, now to the game of polities, as it. was played in Parliament, but they proved their uterih in other spheres of aelivi ly, and lie had no shadow of'doubt o' their marked and continued success. The spirit of the gathering was a good omen of ellort and achievement. hard avork. That Sir Joseph Ward is gm'ig 1,1 he overworked, particularly dining tin first year of his return visit to the treasury Benches, goes without saying. Every member of the Cabinet who throws himself, heart and soul into his “job” is overworked. The fact that Sir Joseph has .iakpn over to himself a number of other portlolms than that of Finance, however, need not seriously trouble bis friends. The Public- Trust, state Advances and Land and Tcomo Tax Departments, are closely allied with the Finance Department, and Sir Joseph probably will ho rather helped than hindered by having them immediately under his own eye Nor is the presence of two or three parliamentary 'debutants in the Ministry going to greatly meommoue its leader. They are of the type that will need little tuition, and what they require will he readily obtained Horn the heads of departments. At the moment the Hon. G. AV. Forbes, with the oortl'olios of Lands-and Agneu.tuie looks the member of the Cah.net most likely to he worked to death.