POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1931, Page 2

POLITICAL

RETIRING MINISTER.

MR TAVERNER DESCRIBES HIS ACTIVITIES.

WELLINGTON, September 21. The retiring Minister of Public Works (the Hon W. B. Taverner), when seen by the correspondent of “Timed” making preparations to hand over to his successor, whoever he may lie, was in a cheerful frame of mind.

“While I regret in a purely person 1 sense cessation of Ministerial aetivit.'s, not on’y interesting to myself but, 1 hope useful to the country, I can only say,” he remarked, “as I h£ve said publicly before, that this is a time call mg for sacrifices, and it may be said that 1 am one of the sacrifices. How ‘ever, I can assure you it is cheerfu ly endured, and I am prepared to give my successor' every possible assistance in the work he will undertake. Anticipating his ‘tasks J have, within the limits imposed by political conditions, endeavoured to clear the way for the policy which the new Minister will have to pursue. THE MAIN THUNK LINE.

“I have endeavoured in every possible way to reduce expenditure and one important instsme is the South Island Main Trunk,, where for some mouths past purchases of, large quantities of bridge steel wimh would have been required had work been continued have been withheld. The effect of this was, under pressure of the necessity of finding employment for 700 metij- engaged oil the linef fo spread ,the -forma*', tiort work over a larger territory'. Tb»* led tp tho Impression that the work had been speeded up, whereas heavy commitment's were bm n S held back, a-» that if it eventually was decided to cease construction there would be no embarrassing conditions for the ll.nister in charge. The Minister lias taken a keen interest in another work of majorg importance which wi.l biing back into operation the Arapuni hydro-electric undertaking. “i have every expectation,” said Air Taverner, “that this big job will be completed wed Within tne esurnateSj not , only of ~ time, but of cost. Mr Taverner expressed high; appreciation 1 ;of; the senior, offices of: the departments with whom lie lnvd been m contact. Lie'had found them efficient and helpful, while tiie Press, which on occasion had to exercise a great discretion in dea.ing with important matters, had shown a spirit *of. co-operat-ion which lie appreciated.

TWO APPOINTMENTS. CHAiIRMAN OF COMMITTEES AND SENIOR WHIP. WELLINTGON, September 21. Two minor offices in the House are likely to be filled by appointments from the retiring Ministers, These are the Chairmanship of Committees, and the senior Government Whipship. Before their elevation to Cabinet rank the Hon -S, 0, Smith and . the Hon A. J. Murdoch were the respective ocevpan's of those positions, which at present are held by Mr Bodkin gud Air Alunns. It is understood that Air Bodkin already hag tendered his resignation and that he will be succeeded hy Air Smith, who enjoyed a large measure of popularity when previously Chairman of Committees and Deputy-Speaker. As the new Ministry is a coalition it is only natural that each of the leaders will retain the right of selecting his own Whip, and this being the case it is practicaby certain that Air Forbes will invite Mr Mui'doch to resume the occupancy of the bench at the immediate rear of the Prime Minister’s seat. Air Coates has a wide field of prospective Whips. Among those in the running are Messrs Nash, BHchener and Waite.

THE COALITION. THE VOTING STRENCTH. WELLINGTON, September 21. The voting strength of the new Administration will be 52, slightly fewer than the Reform Government’s personnel during the 1525-28 Parliament, when Mr Coate s was backed by a following of 55 members. It is more than likely that upon some portions of its policy the new Coalition will have also the support of the Independents, though many of the measures to be taken will more than likely provoke them to exercise their prerogative of independence when a test of feeling is taken. The Leaders of the Coalition are alive to the usefulness of this majority of 25 members over all, because it is freely rumoured that some of the legislation proposed will arouse a great deal of opposition from Labour and Independent members, and, as Mr Coates remarked when discussing the situation, strong representation ,yLI he required in the House to put through the whole cf the contemplated programme.

A NEW POSITION Comment has, been aroused by the reported appointment of Mr Coates to the position of Leader of the House, a positioni hitherto non-existent in N?w Zealand politics. The position w 11 give him charge of incst of the new legislation. Constitutionally this position is moulded on lines of the British Parliament, where the Prime Min str has on .m t .-. s ior s been a member of the House of ’■ .orris jtliu. requiring efficient and permanent , representation bv a deputy in the House of Commons. Thi s dutv was placed in charge of the Leader of the House, and the position is nowl recognised as essential in a big Parliament to relieve some of the rospon-

sibility usually, falling on the shoulders of the Prime Minister. It is iikely that so far as the New Zealand Parliament is .concerned this position will bo merely as temporary one, allowing Mr Coates to become the centre of ah vital legislation which the Cca.‘ftion finds necessary to put through to meet the financial emergency. Mr Masters’s position as a member of the Cabinet, presumab'y ho ding important portfolios, and at the same time a member of the Upper House, will make it necessary that bis Ministerial duties shall be carried out hy a deputy in the Lower House. This, it is anticipated, would naturally -Riillwupon the shoulders of the Leader \>f s the House. CURRENT LEGISLATION. One question that is exereis'ng the minds of political speculators is as to what will happen to the legis’nt'on which has already been introduced, and which is in course of p; through tlie House. Much of it, pos ibly including the Budget itself, will have to he recast. The taxing Bills, for which resolutions have already been approved by the House but not confirmed by legislation, must be read mated and brought down afresh, incorporating the policy of the new Administration. A great deal of discussion centres about the Broadcasting Bill, which has been read a first time, and was well down cm the Order Paper awaiting the second reading stage. As seme arrangement has fo be made for cnrrymr on the broadcasting service at the expiration of the present company’s lease at tlie end of the year, much wi 1 depend upon the attitude of the .new Postmaster-General. There is definite reason for believing however, that team work will more tjban over guicb operations of the new Administration,