PRESS COMMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 452, 30 March 1912, Page 5

PRESS COMMENTS.

SOUTHERN PREPONDERANCE. Christchurch, Friday. The Lytlelton Times, says:--"We should have been as well pleased if Canterbury had one representative instead of five, but our Northern friends take rather a different view of this detail. Mr Mackenzie has displayed very considerable courage in disregarding the provincial factor in selecting his colleagues. Ho has shown all through the piece more courage than his critics have attributed to him. We were told that the rural and commercial elements were to dominate his Cabinet, hut wo find only one farmer and two business me!? among his colleagues, while he has called four members of the advanced wing of the progressive party. The South Island appears to have far more than its fair share of representation." AN OPPOSITION VIEW.

Christchurch, Friday. Criticising the now Ministry, the Press says:—"We do not believe it can stand, and we hold more firmly than ever that Parliament should be called together without delay, in order that the matter may be tested. Mr Myers is a very estimable gentleman in private life, but he has less than two years in Parliament, and he has no experience of office, vet he is expected to fill the most important positions held by Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. J. A. Millar. Most of the selections have their humorous aspect, but the cream of the joke is the appointment of Mr Colvin, an amiable, but rather obtuse old gentleman from the West Coast. The appointment is doubtless made to placate the West Coast." TWO QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Wdington, Friday. The Times says the questions immediately suggesting themselves are: With what degree of success haß Mr T. Mackenzie acquired himself in the task of selection, and how will the constituencies regard the Ministry? The answer is that Mr Mackenzie and his colleagues cannot he. judged upon their names. They must be justified by their works. No crystallisation of public opinion can be expected on that judicial basis. The electors, we are confident, will be quite prepared to give the new Ministry a trial upon its merits. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, it seems apparent that Mr Mackenzie has done quite well. His aim has apparently been to surround himself with hard-work-ing, level-headed men. A majority of these men have, enjoyed the confidence of the electorates lor a long series of years. The. Ministry is a safe and efficient combination, and there is not the slightest reason why anyone should lose a night's sleep between now and June, on account of apprehension in regard to its conduct of the public business."