WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE NEW MINISTRY

READJUSTMENT OF PORTFOLIOS

(Special Correspondent.!

WELLINGTON, May 20.

There were no startling surprises among the readjustment of portfolios presented to Hi.s Excel Li icy the Gov-ernor-General - 'by the* Prime Minister yesterday. Mr Forhes took the whole of the responsibility for the reart’augement of the .•Hlministrotion of the Dominion’s affairs upon his shoulders —not merely theoretically, hut actually—and on the wliole he seems to have satisfied the critics fairly well. The retention of Sir Joseph Ward in the Executive Council has met with very general approval, being regarded as an appropriate recognition of the services of a statesman who has icndered invaluable service to-the country during the last fortv ' years. It is not expected that Sir Joseph will continue to take a..strenuous ?>art..in the mihlio affairs of tlm country, bqt it is certain that his wide observation and experience will Ibe of great value to his colleagues, who are fortunate in having his assistance at a time when both the Government..and the country are passing through a critical period.

THE LEADER.' Mr Forbes is being deluged with congratulations front both political friends anil politico 1 opponents, nncj is greeting' them all with the sains syorting spirit as they are offered. His first 'public announcement after submitting himself and his colleagues of the Governor-General was a very model of. modesty and resolution. Coming into Parliament only during, the decline of the Liberal Party and remaining in the political wilderness for seventeen years, he well v might have wearied of long waiting; but* his optimism and his' endurance never failed him and to-day he is ’reaping the fruit of his belief in himself and in his political creed. His taking ol the portfolio of finance upon Ids own broad shoulders has alarmed sqme of his critics; but both Seel cl on and Mr Massey-, and Sir- Ha.rry Atkinson long before these two shrewd leaders, mounted the Treasury Benbjies, rrthintained strongly that +b" leader of a party should hold the purse, Sir Joseph Ward, as everyone knows, holds fast to the same axiom.

PUBLIC OPINION. - •• The two Wellington dailies have greeted the new Cabinet not unlupcUyThe "Post” thinks , Mr Forbes has shown judgment in not attempting to carry his old portfolios as well as thb new. "As it is,” it happens to add* "his load is heavy enough; tb<? heavy in fact for a'Prime Minister who Will find enough to do in gUiding genet’ll policy.” The Evening paper, how* ever, cannot see how Mr Forbes could have avoided shouldering finance as he has done. The "Dominion” -is even more * generous chan it? local contemporary, "in the difficult task of Gnbinet-making.” it states, “Mr Forbes has done v. ell with flic material available. There may be room for differences as io details, just os there are many permutations ’ in fitting thirteen names to thirtv or forty departments.” The morning paper’s one jibe is directed against the Minister of Education, ".ft is just that Mr Atmore should retain the portfolio of Education,” it observes, "No one else should be asked to follow where so much has been promised and so little performed.” No one will, enjoy this jibe more than will the Minister himself.

PREPARING THE WAY. Mr Forbes is letting it be known that the new Government has settled down to work and +l 'o+ it te not to be diverted from jits, mb by frivolous interruptions. he reiteratfed to-day, “will have to forego visits outside Wellington and will be obliged in tW interests of the Dominion to decline invitations to functions apart from their inks. We expect to be well forward with our work when Parliament meets and we are straining every effort townn 1 ' this end.’’ He saw the advantages of the Dominion hp!n" represented at the Imperial Confernn-m by its own Premier, he went on to say, tout he realised that his ability to get away at the end of August or the beginning of September depended largely upon the attitude of bis friends who constituted the Opposition. He was not anticipating any frivolous obstacles being placed in his way, but naturally enough the members “on the other side of the House” would claim their fair share of the talking in the House and other perquisites.