WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DOWN TO AVORK.

MINISTERS KEPT BUSY

(Special Correspondeut).

WELLINGTON, April 9,

Members of the new Cabinet, having made themselves acquainted with the routine attaching to their respective portfolios, and having inspected the various parts of the country requiring their attention, are now settling down to the mastery of the details of their departments. So far the Prime Minister, the only member of the Cabinet with previous experience of ministerial responsibility, appears to have borne tile lion’s share of the work remarkably well. The season for deputations, in view of the approaching session, now lias set in, and the leader of the Government appears to be bearing its exactions quite as cheerily as he did twenty years ago. liis day’s work, beginning in his own apartments at seven or eight in the morning, and continuing until live or six in the evening, leaves him with plenty of vitality for extended public business or tor the discharge of social obligations. In short, lie seems to have returned to the days of his youth with bis enthusiasm and bis knowledge of affairs unimpaired. The approaching session of Parliament promises to be a most interesting one.

A LIVE CABINET.

The remaining members of the Cabinet are by no means overshadowed by the activities of their chief. The Hon. G. \V. Forbes, as Minister of Lands and Minister of Agriculture, with half-a-dozen subsidiary departments thrown m lias taken up a two man job; the Hon.- Sir Apirana Ngata Has all the native offices as well as the Government Life Insurance and State Fire Departments crowded upon him, and the Hon AV. A. Veitch, popularly known as the Minister of Labour, is also Minister of Mines, Minister of Pensions and Minister of Transport, as well as custodian of several minor departments. The Hon E.A. Ransom lias his hands full as Minister of Public Works, his portfolio' covering a score of minor departments, and the Hon J. G. Cobbe, with three district portfolios of his own is understudy to Sir Joseph Ward in matters of finance and commerce. • The Hon 11. Atmore is stirring up the Department of Education as it had not been stirred up for forty years, and none of the other members of the Cabinet are missing anything for lack of zeal.

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

The rumour that was current here during the week end to the effect that the Government had stopped work on the Palmerston North railway deviation obtained additional colour from a statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday in reply to a question on the subject. Sir Joseph Ward let it be understood that lie had nothing to say on the subject for the present; but that a number of members of the Cabinet would visit Palmerston North on Wednesday (to-morrow) with the purpose of inspecting the work that had been done and ascertaining the probable value of the completed deviation to the railway service. The work was commenced by the late Government rather more than two years ago, primarily with the object of relieving the existing unemployment in the district, and it was expected that the cost of the undertaking spread over four years, would run into some £400,000. No further information on the subject is available at the moment, hut there Is a growing impression that the work will be indefinitely suspended. The Prime Minister, however, adheres to an open mind on the matter.

THE MASSEY COLLEGE,

Should the decision of the Cabinet be against the continuation of the Palmerston North railway deviation, the good people of the Manawatu district may obtain some consolation from the alacrity with which Sir Joseph Ward acceded to the request of the deputation, representative of the North Island, that waited upon him on Saturday wth a request for a further grant oj‘ some £90,000 towards building requirements in connection with the Massey Agricultural College. Sir George Fowlds, the chairman of the College Council, having briefly explained the position, Sir Joseph without the least demure promised the deputation the assistance it sought. He thought that the site selected for the college was a very good one arid that to make the institution of value to the community it was necessary that it should be suitably arranged and adequately equipped. He hoped there would be no need to rush the expenditure of the money required towards the achievement of these ends, hut he was quite prepared to fall in with the arrangements of the management. The Prime Minister obviously hears no ill will towards his predecessors in office nor to their schemes of national consequence.

Pure, piquant, strong Sliarland’s Vinegar cannot be excelled in New Zealand. Put it on your grocery list. Ideal for salads, sauces, pickles, or table uso. In bottle or bulk.—Advt.

Special drastic reductions on men’s “ Sincerity,” “ Lynx,” “Kniapoi” and “ Cambridge ” box suits this week, 40 suits, sizes 3,4, 5,6, 7, to go at from 20s to 40s less than ordinary prices at McKay’s.—Advt. No cold is “ Nazol ” proof. This powerful penetrating specific soon shifts the most stubborn cold. Try it! 60 doses for la 6d.—Advi,